"Stay fire smart, don't get burned" promotes this year's fire prevention theme

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Matthew Varga
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Sheppard fire department will observe fire prevention week, Oct. 3-10 with multiple activities to raise awareness about fire prevention. 

Fire prevention week was created in 1922 in remembrance of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. 

Sheppard will be doing its part to raise awareness on base and in the surrounding community with different activities throughout the week. 

"We will kick off the week with a parade through the base housing communities of fire trucks from the base and the local community that will be on display at the base exchange afterwards. There will also be a display table in the entrance of the BX with information throughout the week about fire prevention," said Rodney Ryalls, 82nd Civil Engineering Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention. 

Sparky the Fire Dog and the fire department's fire prevention education trailer will also be visiting local schools in the area to teach children about fire safety and what to do in situations involving a house fire. 

Two-man teams will also compete in full firefighter protective equipment in the Commander's Smoke House Challenge on Oct. 6, to extract a victim of a house fire as quickly as possible with a trophy going to the fastest team along with coveted bragging rights. 

"We want to make sure we are doing whatever we can do to get the message out about fire prevention and fire safety," Mr. Ryalls said. 

By following simple safety rules, you can "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." 

· Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over. 

· Have a 3-foot "kid-free" zone around the stove. 

· Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage. 

· Be careful when using items that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, 
heaters. 

· Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in the outlet. 

· Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use. 

· Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking. 

· Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees. 

· Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets. 

List of safety safety rules provided by the National Fire Prevention Association's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. Copyright 2009 NFPA.