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Today’s home fires burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice.
KMC Fire and Emergency Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association, the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, to promote this year’s campaign “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.” which works to educate the public about basic but essential ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire. Fire Prevention Week is from Oct. 7 to 13.
As you are preparing yourself and your family on what to do in case of a fire, follow these simple tips to help eliminate possible fire hazards in your home:
Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove top while cooking, and keep a lid nearby when frying with oils or grease. You can slide the lid over the pan to smother a grease fire.
Store any grills and propane tanks outside, in the closed position, and ensure all the parts for them are in good working order. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when operating them!
Keep gasoline stored outside the home (in a garage or lawn shed) and in a tightly closed metal or plastic container approved by an independent testing laboratory.
Ensure you are cleaning the lint from your dryers after each use, and that there are no frayed wires or other electrical problems with both your washer and dryer.
Change your batteries in your smoke detectors once a year.
Additionally, ensure you have an escape plan for your home in case of an emergency. Draw a map of your home (including windows and doors), and find two ways out of every room. Make sure all windows and doors can be easily opened from the inside, and that they are not blocked. Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance away from your home, such as a tree or a light pole. This will help the firefighters find you when they arrive. Ensure everyone is familiar with your plan and that it is practiced regularly. Should you ever have an emergency, dial 112 or 06371-47-112 from any phone and we will be there!
KMC FES will kick off Fire Prevention Week with a parade at 10 a.m., Oct. 6 through Ramstein Military Family Housing. The day will continue with the Fire Department Open House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fire Station 1, Bldg. 2303, on the Ramstein flight line. There will be free food, live fire and vehicle extrication demonstrations, fire truck displays from KMC FES and surrounding local fire departments, activities for kids, door prizes and much, much more.
For more information on this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, contact KMC FES Fire Prevention Office at 480-5940 or visit www.firepreventionweek.org.
