This year’s fire prevention messsage is
“Stay Fire Smart – Don’t Get Burned”

It is not enough to have a home fire escape plan in order to escape a burning home safely. You must ensure that everyone in your home knows the plan, and and has practiced the plan.

According to a recent NFPA poll, the majority of American homes have a fire escape plan, but most have not practiced it.

PRACTICE OF YOUR FIRE ESCAPE PLAN IS THE KEY!!!

Fire Prevention Night

This event is scheduled each October during Fire Safety Week, and includes tours of the firehouse, Engine 6, Squad 6, Ladder 6 and Utility 6. Our antique truck is also on display. Demonstrations about kitchen safety, firefighting and rescue equipment, and the importance of smoke detectors and home escape plans are also discussed. Fire prevention literature is displayed for adults and educational coloring books are available for children. Smoke detectors are also available to families in need. This successful event has raised community awareness of the importance of fire safety and we invite you to check back here for the date of this year’s event.

Fire Prevention Night 2008 (06-Oct-08) – Images

Annual Visits to Local Schools and Day Care Centers

During Fire Safety Week each October, firefighters visit local schools and day care centers where children can see firsthand firefighters arriving at their school on fire trucks! Through presentations and demonstrations of equipment and videos, children learn about fire safety and become comfortable with seeing firefighters dressed in their full protective gear.

Fire Safety Night at the Firehouse

As a reminder of the importance of practicing fire safety every day, fire safety night is scheduled at the firehouse during the spring. Visitors can tour the firehouse and trucks, view demonstrations of firefighting equipment and fire safety videos, and discuss home escape plans.

FIRE FACTS
In an emergency dial 9-1-1

Fire Deaths:

• Home fires cause a fatality roughly every 170 minutes.
• Smoking materials such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes are the leading cause of fire deaths. The majority of residential fires associated with smoking materials start as a result of careless or improper disposal.

Smoke Alarms:

• Having an operationing smoke alarms in your home reduces your chance of dying in a fire nearly in half.
• In three of every ten reported fires in homes equipped with smoke alarms, the devices did not work most often because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries.

Home Escape Planning:

• According to the National Fire Protection Association survey, only 66% of Americans have a home fire escape plan. Thirty-four percent have never practiced it.

Heating:

• During the months of December, January and February, heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires.
• Have heating equipment inspected and cleaned annually.
• Turn off portable heaters when not in use.
• Maintain appropriate clearance (check warning labels) between space heaters and anything that can burn.

Candles:

• Over the last decade, candle fires have almost tripled. Remember that a candle is an open flame. It can easily ignite anything combustible nearby.
• Approximately 16,000 home fires started by candle are reported to fire departments annually and approximately 130 people die annually from fires started as a result of candles.

Cooking:

• More fires start in the kitchen than any other place in the home.
• Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries.
• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.

Electrical:

• Electrical fires and shocks kill hundreds of people and injure thousands each year. Ensure wiring, switches, receptacles and outlets are properly installed and extension cords are used properly.
• Remember downed wires should always be deemed live and please keep your distance from them.

Some images from the day-long training, black and white photos by Regina Rahill:

Images of the Mass Casualty Training (May 2006) Springfield High School