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Fire Prevention Week kicked off with an open house for families in the KMC Oct. 8 on Ramstein.
The goal of Fire Prevention Week is to educate the public on taking precautions to prevent harmful fires and learn how to survive them. It is a proactive method of reducing emergencies and the damage caused by them, said Brent Blasco, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention.
To educate the KMC, the unit held an open house and filled it with entertainment and informational booths.
“We wanted people to come out and participate in these activities we have,” Blasco said.
This year, the event was the biggest it has been yet at Ramstein, featuring a morning parade followed by the open house, which also featured exhibits of different fires and what effects they can have.
“From fire extinguisher training to grease pot fires, we have a lot of ways to bring awareness of fire hazards to the community,” Blasco said. “I’d say the open house was unique compared to all the ones we’ve ever done, so it was a success.”
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, 90 percent of house fires involve cooking equipment, with over half of those being grease fires.
After two hours of the open house, firefighters shifted focus to show off a vehicle extrication training exercise in front of the open house attendants. A vehicle extrication is the process of removing a vehicle from around a person who has been involved in a motor vehicle accident when conventional means of exit are impossible or inadvisable.
Ramstein firefighters worked with local national firefighters to accomplish the extrication. This effort displayed the ability for both U.S. and German forces to work together and accomplish tasks effectively.
“It’s a great opportunity for us all to work with the German firefighters,” said Senior Airman Dylon Bilskemper, 86 CES firefighter. “They are full of experience and help lead the team. Working with them allows us to combine the best of our unique abilities to accomplish the mission.”
Spreading awareness is only the beginning when it comes to developing a culture of fire safety amongst the community. Team Ramstein can now ensure its safety from fire hazards by maintaining proper fire prevention behavior.
For questions, message the KMC Fire Department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KMCFire/.
