Fire Prevention: Awareness week helps spread safety message Published Sept. 29, 2008 By Greg Chesser Chief, Fire Prevention F.E. WARREN AFB, Wyo. -- Warren Fire Emergency Services, along with thousands of firefighters across the country, will be visiting schools and other sites in the community to teach the basics of fire safety and prevention during Fire Prevention Week in October. The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. The theme for this year is "Prevent Home Fires." A home should be a safe haven. But do people regularly check for home fire hazards? If not, there is the potential for danger. Fire departments responded to nearly 400,000 home fires in 2006. The leading causes of home fires are cooking, heating, electrical and smoking-materials. Just this month, fire and security forces members responded to a report of smoke at a Ft. Warren Ave. residence. Unattended cooking caused the smoke. The occupants had left the home in a hurry leaving the pot cooking on the stove. While there was no damage to the residence, the entire building was filled with smoke and took nearly 40 minutes to clear. A potential disaster was averted thanks to someone walking by, seeing smoke, hearing a smoke detector and calling the police. Cooking with care Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food. If leaving the kitchen, even for a short period time, turn off the stove. Keep anything that can catch fire - potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags - away from stovetop. Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire. Always keep an oven mitt and lid handy. If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, don the oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool. Everyday electrical safety Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn, such as lamp shades, bedding, curtains and clothing. Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords. Use extension cords for temporary wiring only. Strike out smoking-materials fires If smoking, choose fire-safe cigarettes if they are available in your area. If smoking, do it outside. Wherever smoking, use deep, sturdy ash trays. Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet, out of reach of children. "Candle" with caution Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn. Use sturdy, safe candleholders. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Blow out candles when leaving a room. Avoid using candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas.