Firehouse : Learn safe responses to fire
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
This week, Oct. 5-11, is National Fire Prevention week. Each of us must play a roll in fire safety and prevention to avoid what could be tragic situations.
In 2007, there were an estimated 399, 000 reported home structure fires resulting in 2, 865 civilian deaths and 13, 600 civilian injuries and $ 7. 4 billion in direct damage in the United States. Home fires caused 84 percent of civilian deaths and 77 percent of injuries.
The Pea Ridge Fire Department responded in 2007 to 32 residential building fires, so far this year we're at 11. Most of these happened during the winter months, and only a few had working smoke detectors that sounded an alarm to residents.
Once a smoke detector sounds, the occupants may only have a few precious moments to leave the building before smoke and flame can take over the interior spaces. Exiting the interior of your home in an emergency situation should be practiced with each member of the household. We recommend installing smoke detectors in all hallways and bedrooms in your home. Smoke detector devices should bear the Underwriters Laboratories seal. Follow the manufacturers installation instructions. Test each smoke detector according to instructions once a month, replace batteries twice a year.
Know at least two ways out of your home, preferably towards different directions. Have a planned meeting place outside of any danger area that may occur as a result of a fire. Keep in mind that a building on fire may collapse, and all occupants should be far enough from the building to avoid areas where structural walls may fall on them.
Once outside of a building on fire, do not return. Conditions deteriorate rapidly in a burning building, the situation can be very different on re-entry than it was a short time ago, when originally exiting.
Be sure to dial 911 in case of an emergency, from outside the fire building, don't waste any time getting out. We've had residential fires in our area that have resulted in fatalities because the occupants took too long to leave the building and lost time they could not make up.
Have Working Smoke Detectors !
Practice Exit Drills !
In Case of Fire... Get Out ! Stay Out !
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