Nine people died each day in structural fires in the United States in 2007 - 3,430 people in that year. And while there was a 5.2 percent decrease of reported fires during 2007, property damage climbed significantly by 29.5 percent from 2006. However, the industry's recent efforts to legislate better fire protection - taking advantage of improved technologies - have spurred changes in fire code that will help reduce the loss of lives and property.