Fire Safety: Everyone's Responsibility

Published April 13, 2009
By 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The Pope Fire Prevention Office would like to extend a reminder to the base populous that fire safety is everyone's responsibility, not just the fire department's responsibility. We want to make sure that Pope personnel and their families have the most up-to-date information available. The following safety tips will help keep you and your family safe from fire danger:

Cooking Safety

Cooking fires is the main cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Nearly all cooking fires start with the ignition of food, other cooking materials (e.g., grease, cooking oil), or other items normally found or installed in a kitchen (e.g., cabinets, wall coverings, paper or plastic bags, curtains).

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

· If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer as a reminder that you are cooking.

· Keep anything that can catch fire -- oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains --away from your stovetop.

· Keep the stovetop, burners and oven clean.

· Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

· Plug microwave ovens or other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

· Check electrical cords for cracks, breaks or damage.

· Just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

· Call 9-1-1 from your home phone or 394-0911 from a cell phone.

· If you do try to fight the fire, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit.

· Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.

· In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. After a fire, the oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.

Electrical Safety

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 20,900 reported home structure fires involving electrical distribution or lighting equipment in recent years. These fires resulted in 500 civilian fire deaths, 1,100 civilian fire injuries, and $862 million in direct property damage.

· Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.

· Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.

· In homes with small children, unused wall sockets and extension-cord receptacles should have plastic safety covers.

· Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.

· If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician.

Dryer Safety

Dryers and washing machines were involved in one out of every 21 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in recent years.

· Do not operate a dryer without a lint filter. Clean lint filters before or after each use and remove accumulated filter from around the drum

· Make sure the dryer is plugged into an outlet suitable for its electrical needs as overloaded outlets can result in blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.

· Turn the dryer off when leaving the home.

· Keep the dryer area clear of combustibles (i.e. boxes or clothing).

· Dryers should be installed and serviced by a professional.

· Have gas-powered dryers inspected by a professional regularly to ensure that the gas line and connection are intact.

Children and Fire

Children playing with fire cause hundreds of deaths and injuries each year. Preschoolers and kindergartners are most likely to start these fires, typically by playing with matches and lighters, and are most likely to be injured or killed by them.

· Store matches and lighters out of children's reach and sight, up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.

· Never use lighters or matches as a source of amusement for children; they may imitate you.

· If your child expresses curiosity about fire or has been playing with fire, calmly but firmly explain that matches and lighters are tools for adults only.

· Use only lighters designed with child-resistant features. Remember child-resistant does not mean child proof.

· Teach young children and school-age children to tell an adult if they see matches or lighters.

· Never leave matches or lighters in a bedroom or any place where children may go without supervision.

· If you suspect your child is intentionally setting fires or unduly fascinated with fire, get help. Your local fire department, school or community counseling agency can put you in touch with trained experts.

Candles

During 2008, an estimated 15,600 home structure fires started by candles were reported to local fire departments. These fires resulted in an estimated 150 civilian deaths, 1,270 civilian injuries and an estimated direct property loss of $539 million. Homes include dwellings, duplexes, manufactured housing and apartments.

· Use of candles in Pope facilities other than base housing is strictly prohibited.

· Keep candles at least 36 inches from anything that can burn.

· Use sturdy, safe candleholders.

· Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish candles when leaving a room.

· Avoid using candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries and have contributed to an almost 50 percent decrease in fire deaths since the late 1970s.

· Smoke alarms save lives. The most important things you need to know are smoke alarms save lives and should be in every home.

· Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test smoke alarms monthly, replacing batteries once a year or when a low-battery alarm chirps and performing other maintenance as NFPA and as smoke alarm manufacturers recommend. And of course, a smoke alarm disabled because the alarm is a nuisance provides no protection at all.

· It is important to have not just one smoke alarm but smoke alarms in every location required by NFPA standards. Have a smoke alarm on each level of your home, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. Tens of millions of U.S. homes are estimated to have smoke alarms but not enough smoke alarms to meet the standards and protect their homes.

· Develop and practice an escape plan so that everyone in the home knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds. Plan a second way out from every room in your home. Every household that develops and practices and escape plan with two ways out from every location improves its time to escape in every type of fire.

Fire Extinguishers

A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives, but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads rapidly, the number one priority for residents is to get out safely.

· Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing; for example, when everyone has exited the building, the fire department has been called or is being called and the room is not filled with smoke.

· To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:   - Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle   pointing away from you and release the locking   mechanism.   - Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.   - Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.   - Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

· For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.

· Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.

· Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher trainings.

· Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.

· Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape. Every household should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.

All of these facts and many more can be found on the NFPA Web site at www.nfpa.org in the quick links tab. Simply click on fact sheets and safety tips.

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