Problem:
Summarize this text into one sentence: Why are federal agencies interested and involved in fire protection for apartment buildings? First, and most important, the people who live in the apartment buildings also form the employer, customer, and supporter base for the nation's industries, commerce, and government. Additionally, for the past three years, the average loss in apartment fire fatalities was approximately 2000 people per year; the average dollar loss was approximately $1200 million per year. Since the U.S. Government helps assumed financial responsibilities for a large fraction of these losses and/or their precursors, the U.S. Government is interested in reducing the human and property costs associated with the occurrence of fires. This governmental interest leads to both research and standards activities within the Federal Government intended to provide tools for citizens interested in improving the fire safety of apartments.