Waco Fire Marks Three Years With Zero Structure Fire Deaths

Published on February 26, 2026

The Waco Fire Department has reached a significant milestone in public safety. As of February 18, 2026, the City of Waco has gone three full years without a single person dying in a house or building fire.

Thank you to our local firefighters who work daily to protect the community. Across the United States, statistics show that one person typically dies for every 100 structure fires. In Waco, our crews have responded to 583 fires during this three-year period with no loss of life.

Training and Quick Response

The Waco Fire Department maintains an average response time of six minutes and 20 seconds. This speed is vital because modern building materials and furniture burn much faster than those used in the past. 40 years ago, residents had about 17 minutes to escape a burning home. Today, that time has dropped to roughly three minutes.

To combat these faster fires, the department focuses heavily on firefighter training and fire prevention programs. These efforts ensure that crews are ready to act the moment a call comes in.

The Role of Smoke Alarms

A man handing a smoke alarm to a firefighter and Sparky the Fire Dog

Working smoke alarms are the most effective way to prevent fire deaths. About two-thirds of all residential fire deaths happen in homes where there are no smoke alarms or where the alarms do not work.

Through the Home Fire Campaign, the Waco Fire Department partners with the American Red Cross to offer free smoke alarm installation and safety education. Any resident who needs a smoke alarm can contact the department to receive one.

Request Smoke Alarms

You should test your alarms monthly by pressing the test button. It's also important to replace batteries twice a year and to replace the entire smoke alarm unit every ten years. Each time you change your clocks for daylight saving time, change the batteries. Most alarms use 9-volt batteries.

"It is my goal as Chief to see that every home in Waco has a working smoke alarm. These devices give families the early warning they need to get out safely. By making sure your home is prepared, you help us keep that death toll at zero."
-Waco Fire Chief Robby Bergerson

Safety Steps for Residents

Before showing a clean normal bedroom. After showing burned down bedroom.

The difference between a bedroom with a closed door and a bedroom with an open door when there is a hallway fire.

Cooking and space heaters are the primary causes of fires in Waco homes. While firefighters are always ready to respond, there are steps residents can take to stay safe:

Close Before You Doze: Keeping bedroom doors closed at night can keep a room at 100 degrees even if the hallway reaches 1,000 degrees. A closed door provides up to 15 minutes of protection from smoke and heat.
Have an Exit Plan: If an alarm sounds, everyone should get out of the house immediately and stay out.
Call for Help: Always call 911 from a safe distance once you are outside.

The Waco Fire Department remains committed to fire prevention and education to keep this number at zero. By working together, the department and the community can continue to save lives.

More Fire Prevention Tips