National Fire Prevention Week to kick off

  • Published
  • By Col. Dennis Yates
  • 96th Civil Engineer Group
EGLIN AFB, Fla. --  The Fire Department, along with fire departments across the nation, will commemorate National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11. 

Uncontrolled fire can destroy homes, possessions and lives. Fire Prevention Week is a time to check evacuation plans at home and in the workplace to ensure the safety of loved ones and co-workers. It is also a time to check for and eliminate hidden hazards and prepare families and co-workers for any emergency situation. Finally, it is a great time to make sure all sleeping areas are equipped with smoke detectors, checking them at least semi-annually to ensure you will be properly notified if a fire should occur.

Your home should be a safe haven. But do you regularly check for home fire hazards? If not there is the potential for danger. Fire departments across the United States responded to nearly 400,000 home fires in 2006. That's why the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2008 is "IT'S FIRE PREVENTION WEEK: PREVENT HOME FIRES!" 

Unattended cooking fires continue to lead the way in the nation according to the National Fire Protection Association. There were three home fires in family housing on base  since 2004, totaling $1,500 in damages. 

Team Eglin has done a great job and we want to keep it going. Family sponsors in government family housing are responsible for a fire-safe condition within their quarters. They need to ensure dependents are familiar with the fire prevention instructions in AFI 32-6001, Family Housing Management, and AAC Pamphlet 32-5, Eglin Community and Housing Information, and know how to evacuate their quarters in case of emergency. Sponsors can be held liable for fire damage when it is determined abuse or negligence caused the fire.

Fire Prevention measures are outlined in AAC Pamphlet 32-4, Eglin AFB Standardized Family Housing Brochure, and AFOSH Standard 91-56, paragraph 4h. Here are a few tips to help you prevent fires in the home.  Ensure that:

- electrical cords are in good condition, 
- major appliances (washers, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, and large microwaves are plugged directly into the wall with no extension cords or power strips
- all escape routes are clear of clutter and easily accessible,
- keep combustible material away from the stove
-  make sure your clothes dryer has a clean vent and filter (no lint build-up). 

As you can see it is very important all Team Eglin members need to "PREVENT HOME FIRES." Please pass this very important message to your co-workers and family members.

Fire is a living and breathing entity that can grow out of control in a few short minutes. When you are cooking on your stove top and have to leave the kitchen even for just a minute, turn your stove top off. This ounce of prevention can save you thousands of dollars. As always, make sure your smoke alarms (detectors) are properly placed and if they are controlled by electricity, ensure they have a battery back-up. Good rule of thumb for making sure your batteries are always fresh in your detectors is to change them when daylights savings time hits! This will ensure your batteries are being changed twice a year which is more than enough to keep your smoke alarm alive and ready for notification. 

Remember if a fire should occur in your home or work place, notify the fire department by dialing "911" from a safe location. The Eglin AFB Fire Department is on duty 24 hours a day to respond to any emergency situation. 

How can you become part of a team? Easy, you are already part of one. At work, at school, in your neighborhood, anywhere you live, is an opportunity to work together and avoid tragedy that can occur from home fires. I encourage you to join families across North America and remember " IT'S FIRE PREVENTION WEEK: PREVENT HOME FIRES!"