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Fire Prevention Week is almost upon us, and that means firefighters and fire departments around the country are asking members of our communities to take a pause and consider fire safety and prevention.
Fire Prevention Week traditionally occurs in the same week in October as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It’s a very fitting time for everyone to consider how well we protect ourselves and our family members from the dangers presented by fires, not just because of the historical significance of the date, but also because of the transition from warm weather to cold weather. Each year we see an increase in residential fires as the weather grows colder and people spend more time indoors. But Fire Prevention Week is more than just a one-week campaign for fire safety — it’s a time to plan for an entire year of fire safety and prevention for everyone around you.
This year the national campaign theme is “Protect Your Family from Fire.” It’s an all-encompassing call for all Americans to increase their vigilance whether at home, work, at a friend’s house or visiting a child’s school. That may sound like a daunting task, but it’s actually pretty simple.
So what sorts of things should everyone look for? An organized look at fire safety and fire prevention will help keep things simple. There are three basic aspects to consider — fire prevention (keeping unwanted fires from starting), fire safety (using fire safely), and escape (getting out of burning buildings). Consider what a fire needs and you’ll be off and running toward a safer environment.
Let’s start with fire prevention. A fire needs three things: heat, fuel and oxygen. Because oxygen is pretty much everywhere and we all need it to live, there’s no need to worry about trying to eliminate it, but we can control heat and fuel.
To help prevent fires, simply take a few extra steps to keep heat and fuel away from one another. Homes and work places are full of heat sources, such as cooking equipment, electrical appliances, candles, heaters, etc. Our homes and work places are also full of fuel in the form of paper, wood, upholstery, clothing, plastic, etc. So keep these two elements of a fire separate and you can greatly increase your fire safety.
Here is a great example: roughly a quarter of all cooking-related cooking fires involve combustible items placed too close to a stove. All we need to do is make sure anything that can catch fire is kept safely away from the stove and we can have a significant reduction in cooking fires. The same principle applies throughout the rest of your home and workplace — keep the combustible items away from the heat and you can really make a change.
Not all fires are unwanted, so when it comes to fire safety we need to remember a few precautions to ensure a wanted fire doesn’t become a dangerous fire. Candles, a fire in the fireplace, a furnace or water heater, and cooking are all times when we want or need fire. The trick to keeping safe is to keep combustible items like paper and clothing away from the flame. Use the three-foot rule — keep all combustible items at least three feet away from heat sources and open flames. And always have a fire extinguisher available and ready for use in your home, just in case.
Finally we need to consider escape, because the fact is fires can happen. Unfortunately, fires happen when least expected. People are at their most vulnerable when they’re sleeping, which can be as much as one third of a person’s life. All the fire prevention and fire safety won’t help you a bit if you’re sleeping and your house catches fire. What you need in that moment is something to wake you up.
Smoke alarms are perfect for the job. The best kinds of smoke alarms are combination photoelectric and ionization detectors. Smoke alarms should be in every room you live or sleep in, but no less than one on each floor of your house. Also, they should be interconnected so if one detects smoke, they all sound an alarm. You should also consider what to do if your smoke alarms go off. Make a fire escape plan with your family and practice it so everyone knows what to do.
Finally, please keep in mind the Fort Leavenworth Fire Department is here to help you make your family safe. We have plenty of activities coming up for Fire Prevention Week for families and children, and you can call 684-4190 to request a fire safety visit to your home.
Our upcoming events include:
Fire Prevention Week kick-off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Post Exchange. We will provide classes on fire extinguisher use, home escape planning, and a fire truck display. Fort Leavenworth Frontier Heritage Communities will provide free hotdogs for everyone who stops by to participate.
Fire station tours for family and children. The tours include fire safety handouts, a smoke tunnel, and fire safety video. Tours are conducted Oct. 11-14 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. To schedule a tour of the fire station, call 684-4190.
Exceptional Family Member Program fire safety class. This class will be conducted at the Resiliency Center, 600 Thomas Ave. at 6 p.m. Oct. 13. This class will focus on effective planning for a fire emergency when a family member has special needs. If you’re interested in attending this class, contact the EFMP program manager at 684-2800 to reserve a seat.
Fire station open house. The fire department will have a station open house from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 14. We will have posters and videos provided by school children on display .
For more information on the Fire Prevention Week events, or for other questions relating to fire safety and fire prevention, contact the Fort Leavenworth Fire Department at 684-4190 or 684-4168.
Fire Prevention Week is almost upon us, and that means firefighters and fire departments around the country are asking members of our communities to take a pause and consider fire safety and prevention.
Fire Prevention Week traditionally occurs in the same week in October as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It’s a very fitting time for everyone to consider how well we protect ourselves and our family members from the dangers presented by fires, not just because of the historical significance of the date, but also because of the transition from warm weather to cold weather. Each year we see an increase in residential fires as the weather grows colder and people spend more time indoors. But Fire Prevention Week is more than just a one-week campaign for fire safety — it’s a time to plan for an entire year of fire safety and prevention for everyone around you.
This year the national campaign theme is “Protect Your Family from Fire.” It’s an all-encompassing call for all Americans to increase their vigilance whether at home, work, at a friend’s house or visiting a child’s school. That may sound like a daunting task, but it’s actually pretty simple.
So what sorts of things should everyone look for? An organized look at fire safety and fire prevention will help keep things simple. There are three basic aspects to consider — fire prevention (keeping unwanted fires from starting), fire safety (using fire safely), and escape (getting out of burning buildings). Consider what a fire needs and you’ll be off and running toward a safer environment.
Let’s start with fire prevention. A fire needs three things: heat, fuel and oxygen. Because oxygen is pretty much everywhere and we all need it to live, there’s no need to worry about trying to eliminate it, but we can control heat and fuel.
To help prevent fires, simply take a few extra steps to keep heat and fuel away from one another. Homes and work places are full of heat sources, such as cooking equipment, electrical appliances, candles, heaters, etc. Our homes and work places are also full of fuel in the form of paper, wood, upholstery, clothing, plastic, etc. So keep these two elements of a fire separate and you can greatly increase your fire safety.
Here is a great example: roughly a quarter of all cooking-related cooking fires involve combustible items placed too close to a stove. All we need to do is make sure anything that can catch fire is kept safely away from the stove and we can have a significant reduction in cooking fires. The same principle applies throughout the rest of your home and workplace — keep the combustible items away from the heat and you can really make a change.
Not all fires are unwanted, so when it comes to fire safety we need to remember a few precautions to ensure a wanted fire doesn’t become a dangerous fire. Candles, a fire in the fireplace, a furnace or water heater, and cooking are all times when we want or need fire. The trick to keeping safe is to keep combustible items like paper and clothing away from the flame. Use the three-foot rule — keep all combustible items at least three feet away from heat sources and open flames. And always have a fire extinguisher available and ready for use in your home, just in case.
Finally we need to consider escape, because the fact is fires can happen. Unfortunately, fires happen when least expected. People are at their most vulnerable when they’re sleeping, which can be as much as one third of a person’s life. All the fire prevention and fire safety won’t help you a bit if you’re sleeping and your house catches fire. What you need in that moment is something to wake you up.
Smoke alarms are perfect for the job. The best kinds of smoke alarms are combination photoelectric and ionization detectors. Smoke alarms should be in every room you live or sleep in, but no less than one on each floor of your house. Also, they should be interconnected so if one detects smoke, they all sound an alarm. You should also consider what to do if your smoke alarms go off. Make a fire escape plan with your family and practice it so everyone knows what to do.
Finally, please keep in mind the Fort Leavenworth Fire Department is here to help you make your family safe. We have plenty of activities coming up for Fire Prevention Week for families and children, and you can call 684-4190 to request a fire safety visit to your home.
Our upcoming events include:
Fire Prevention Week kick-off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Post Exchange. We will provide classes on fire extinguisher use, home escape planning, and a fire truck display. Fort Leavenworth Frontier Heritage Communities will provide free hotdogs for everyone who stops by to participate.
Fire station tours for family and children. The tours include fire safety handouts, a smoke tunnel, and fire safety video. Tours are conducted Oct. 11-14 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. To schedule a tour of the fire station, call 684-4190.
Exceptional Family Member Program fire safety class. This class will be conducted at the Resiliency Center, 600 Thomas Ave. at 6 p.m. Oct. 13. This class will focus on effective planning for a fire emergency when a family member has special needs. If you’re interested in attending this class, contact the EFMP program manager at 684-2800 to reserve a seat.
Fire station open house. The fire department will have a station open house from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 14. We will have posters and videos provided by school children on display .
For more information on the Fire Prevention Week events, or for other questions relating to fire safety and fire prevention, contact the Fort Leavenworth Fire Department at 684-4190 or 684-4168.
