THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410190182
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ROBYNE R. COOKE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
THE ANNUAL observance of Fire Prevention Week was inspired by one of the nation's most tragic fires, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed 250 people and destroyed 17,430 buildings.
In 1911, the Fire Marshals Association of North America designated the anniversary of the Chicago fire as Fire Prevention Day, dedicated to encouraging fire safety.
President Warren G. Harding proclaimed National Fire Week in 1922.
The Chesapeake Fire Department, which responds to about 1,300 fires a year, follows in these efforts to encourage citizens to take a few simple precautions that could save the lives of citizens and firefighters.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that every home be equipped with a working smoke detector. It is estimated that one-quarter of all smoke detectors in American homes are not working properly. Minimum protection requires a detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. If detectors are more than 10 years old, they should be replaced. Detectors should be tested once a month and cleaned regularly.
Families should plan and practice fire escape routes. Two exits should be identified in every room in a home, and all members of the household should be trained to make sure they know how to open doors and windows.
A meeting place should be arranged outside the home, and everyone should be warned never to re-enter a burning building once they have escaped. Rescue efforts should be left to firefighters.
Space heaters and portable heaters should be kept at least 3 feet away from curtains, paper, furniture and anything that can burn. They should be turned off before bedtime or before leaving the house.
Smokers must never smoke in bed or when they are drowsy, and matches should be kept in a safe place, away from children.
Cooks should never wear loose-fitting sleeves in the kitchen. Heat-producing appliances should be kept well away from curtains and walls. Appliances with frayed or damaged cords should not be used.
The handles of pots and pans should be turned inward when cooking so children cannot easily grab them.
Water should never be used to extinguish a cooking fire. If a pan of food catches fire, a lid should be carefully placed over the pan and the burner should be turned off. If a fire starts in an oven, the oven door should be closed and the heat turned off. Dial 911 if the flames do not go out immediately.
The same advice holds true for fires in microwave ovens: The oven door should be closed, since opening it will feed oxygen to the fire. The appliance should be unplugged and not used again until it has been serviced.
Care should be taken never to overload extension cords or run them under rugs. Chimneys should be inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary.
Screens of heavy metal or heat-tempered glass should be in place when using fireplaces. Only wood should be burned, and fires should never be left unattended.
Portable fire extinguishers can be effective in fighting small, contained fires.
The holiday season is a prime time for residential fires because of faulty decorative lights, candles or parties where people drink and smoke. Extra care should be taken with holiday lights to make certain cords are not frayed or damaged and broken bulbs are replaced. Candles should be placed in no-tip holders and never put near combustible materials or left unattended.
Christmas trees should be fresh, never so dry that they are shedding their needles. Trees should be set up well away from exits, fireplaces and other heat sources. If an artificial tree is used, it should be flame-retardant.
In the event of a fire, flames and smoke may block the paths of escape. Doors should be tested before opening and, if they are hot, they should not be opened. Look for another way out of the room. Even if the door is cool, open it slowly and be ready to slam it shut.
Crawl low under smoke, since it contains deadly gases. Go through smoke only if there is no other way out. Because hot smoke rises, the cleanest air will be several inches off the floor, so it is best to crawl on hands and knees to the nearest exit.
If clothes catch on fire, do not run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames. MEMO: For more information on keeping your home and family safe, call the Fire
Prevention Bureau of Chesapeake at 547-6566.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE SAFETY
by CNB