Next week is Fire Prevention Week: Take time to 'ingrain safer habits' now including an escape plan

Photo by Donna Kallner, The Daily Yonder

As a service, the Sierra Sun Times in California shares National Fire News on its website. Thursday's update was stark: "33 large wildfires have burned 386,575 acres in 10 states. One new large wildfire was reported in New Mexico yesterday. About 3,700 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents nationwide." While the statistics are startling, there is something everyone can do about it, particularly in rural areas where volunteer fire departments are stretched thin and need help from every resident. In honor of Fire Prevention Week, October 8-14, Donna Kallner of The Daily Yonder gives these reminders.

In the kitchen. The focus for Fire Prevention Week this year is on home cooking fires. Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths. Home fires caused by cooking peak at Thanksgiving and Christmas. But you have time before the holidays to ingrain safer habits.

Fire extinguishers. Portable fire extinguishers are an important component in rural fire prevention. They're great for putting out or buying time against a small fire that's confined to a small area (like a wastebasket) and not growing. . . .To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word P.A.S.S.

• Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you as you pull the pin to release the lock.
• Aim low, pointing the nozzle at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. More than a quarter of people killed by cooking fires were sleeping. . . . That's just one reason to make sure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every level of your home. . . . If you or someone you know can't afford smoke detectors or cannot install them properly, check out this American Red Cross program.

Fire drills at home. Some things are, sadly, not at all unexpected – like filling the kitchen with smoke when sausage rolls off a frozen pizza in a hot oven. But when an unexpected alarm sounds in the middle of the night, your family needs to know what to do. There's a reason why schools conduct regular fire drills: They work. . . . Once you have a plan, practice – at least twice a year. Here's more helpful information on home fire escape plans.

Close doors. As you practice your fire escape plan, learn to close doors behind you. Changes in building construction and furnishings mean fire can spread faster now, and you may only have about three minutes to escape. Fire needs oxygen to burn. Closed doors can slow a fire's growth.