Protect your family from fire!

  • Published
  • By 47th Flying Training Wing
  • public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Laughlin Fire Department is recognizing Oct. 9 through 15 as Fire Prevention Week and is encouraging all Laughlin members to take part.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more 360,000 home fires were reported in the U.S. in 2009. Laughlin's fire experts do not want anyone here to be part of a similar statistic in the future.

"In 2009, 2,565 people died in home fires. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan and keeping things that can burn away from the stove," said Paul Gentile, fire inspector for Laughlin Fire Emergency Services. "Fire is a dangerous opponent, but by anticipating the hazards, you are much less likely to be one of the nearly 13,000 people injured in home fires each year."

As part of Fire Prevention Week, some of Laughlin's fire fighters, including Sparky, the fire prevention mascot, will be visiting with some of Laughlin's youth to familiarize them with some emergency techniques in case of a fire in their home.

"While preventing home fires on Laughlin is always our number one priority, it is not always possible," said Craig Wilgus, Laughlin fire chief. "Laughlin's residents need to provide the best protection to keep their homes and families safe in the event of a fire. This can be achieved by developing an escape plan, which you practice regularly and equipping homes with life-saving technologies like smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers."

David Isbell, Laughlin's assistant fire chief, said the following tips would be helpful in protecting your home and family from fire:

· Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

· Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.

· Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.

· Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.

· If you smoke, smoke outside.

· Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.

· Test smoke alarms at least monthly and replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond when tested.

· Make sure everyone in your home knows how to respond if the smoke alarm sounds.

· Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible ways out. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week, please contact Laughlin's Fire Prevention Office at 830-298-5036 or 830-298-5037. A schedule of events is as follows:

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. -- Sparky and the fire trucks visit Laughlin's Child Development Center, a firefighter dons bunker gear and SCBA to familiarize children in case of an emergency

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m. until 5 p.m.-- Sparky and the fire trucks visit Laughlin's Youth Center, smoke simulation in hallway with firefighter to teach kids how to properly egress during a fire

Friday, Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. -- Reading session for children at Laughlin's base library including a fire safety video, a fire truck display and Sparky