Nearly 40 Marylanders have lost their lives to fire in 2023. That’s the message from Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci in an open letter. He’s asking people to prepare for emergency situations by closing your bedroom doors at night, making sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, and developing an escape plan. As a reminder, you should never go back inside of a burning home once you’ve gotten out safe. You can always contact your local fire department for free smoke detectors.