Fire Prevention Week: Prevent home fires

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Eric Garlow
  • 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  How many times have you left the house in the morning and wondered, "Did I turn off the stove?"

With our busy lives, the safety of our homes and families are sometimes relegated to the back of our minds - an afterthought as we hop in the car to start the day.

McConnell Fire and Emergency Services officials want people to use fire prevention week, Oct. 5 through 11, to refocus their attention on things like turning off stove burners and fixing damaged electrical cords. The theme of this year's campaign, "Prevent Home Fires," focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires - cooking, heating and electrical equipment, and smoking materials.

According to the latest statistics from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, there were an estimated 396,000 reported home structure fires in 2007, resulting in 2,580 civilian deaths, 12,500 civilian injuries and $6.8 billion in direct damage in the United States. Home fires caused 80 percent of civilian deaths and 76 percent of injuries last year.

While the statistics are daunting, most home fires are easily preventable when people narrow their focus and take steps to increase our safety. One way to do this is proactively combing through each room at your home to find signs of danger, and fix them. McConnell Fire and Emergency Services is encouraging base personnel and their families to put safety first and perform a home-hazards inspection during Fire Prevention Week. Pick up a checklist at the base fire station, building 1200 or download one from www.firepreventionweek.org.

There are also a number of simple steps to take to keep a home safe from fire:

· Cooking: Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If leaving the kitchen, for even a short period time, turn off the stove.
· Heating: Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment. Turn off space heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
· Electrical: Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords; use extension cords for temporary wiring only. Consider having additional circuits or receptacles added by a qualified electrician if necessary.
· Smoking: Smoke outside, and use deep, sturdy ashtrays. Keep matches and lighters in a locked cabinet out of the reach of children.

Fire prevention is always on minds. Use the checklist and home fire prevention tips to put safety first during Fire Prevention Week, and year round.