National Fire Prevention Week Coincides with County Burn Ban
National Fire Prevention Week Coincides with County Burn Ban
Each year, the week that includes October 8 marks National Fire Prevention Week. This year, locally, it also coincides with the row crop harvest and extremely dry conditions, which prompted officials in Grant County and Roberts County to implement open burn bans last week. The burn bans remain in effect until further notice.
County officials report that abundant rains early in the year led to lush growth of ample vegetation. The lack of precipitation in August and no measurable rain in September has turned the plant matter into ready kindling.
As area residents practice restraint from outdoor burning projects, farmers take care in their harvesting activities and everyone exhibits patience as they await the fall rains, it is an appropriate time to remember, thank and salute the area firefighters.
Fire Prevention Tips
Cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires and fire injuries, and winter months are the peak time for fire-related deaths. Fire Prevention Week, Sunday, October 6 to Saturday, October 12, is the perfect time to review and practice fire safety.
Minimize Your Risks
The good news: Deaths from home fires in the U.S. have trended downward since the 1970s, according to Injury Facts, but even one death from a preventable fire is too many. While fire doesn’t discriminate by age, it is the third leading cause of death for children age one to 14.
When cooking, make fire safety a priority by keeping these tips in mind:
• Be alert; if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the oven or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
Heating is the second leading cause of home fires. Follow these tips:
• Keep all flammables, like paper, clothing, bedding, drapes, or rugs, at least three feet from a space heater, stove or fireplace.
• Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended; turn off heaters and make sure fireplace embers are extinguished before leaving the room.
• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, nonflammable surface, like ceramic tile, not on a rug or carpet.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over.
Working Smoke Alarms Are a Must
About three out of five deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan providing early warning to reduce your risk of dying in a fire. The National Fire Protection Association recommends you:
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas on the ceiling or high on the wall.
• Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen, at least 10 feet from the stove, to reduce false alarms.
• Use special alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers for people who are hard of hearing or deaf.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Replace batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector annually.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 or more years old.
When and How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Always put your safety first; if you are not confident in your ability to use a fire extinguisher, get out and call 9-1-1. The American Red Cross cautions you to evaluate the situation and ensure:
• Everyone has left or is leaving the home.
• The fire department has been called.
• The fire is small, not spreading, and there is not much smoke.
• Your back is to an exit you can use quickly.
Remember the acronym PASS:
Pull the pin,
Aim low at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle slowly.
Sweep the nozzle side to side.
Source: National Safety Council
