Among many purposes for October, the month is also home to Fire Safety Month. However, officials want people to remember that safety comes first all year long.
The National Fire Protection Association wrapped up the annual ‘Fire Safety Week,? established 85 years ago in recognition of the great Chicago fire of 1871. The purpose of dedicating an entire month is to promote fire safety.
Data from the NFPA said in 2003, nearly 400,000 home fires were reported, resulting in 3,145 deaths and nearly 14,000 injuries.
Greg Olrich, fire marshal for the Independence Township Fire Department, said the department tries to do programs all year to teach youth about fire safety. Olrich and Paramedic Don Herbert stopped by the Early Childhood Education Center in Clarkston on Oct. 10 to show youngsters how a firetruck works. Olrich said Boy Scouts, Brownies and classroom groups often take station tours to learn about safety as well, but there are small things people can do year-round to help keep their homes and their loved ones safe.
One message the departament is trying to spread is, ‘Watch What You Heat.? Olrich said the most frequent occurrance of fire in the home is cooking related.
The NFPA said 34 percent, the highest percentage of home fires, originate in the kitchen. An estimated 50 percent goes unreported, he said.
He said people abstain from reporting the incidents because they feel any injuries or home repair can be made without fire department intervention. He said many are reported after the fact because home insurance providers often require documentation prior to paying out an insurance claim.
Olrich said people need not panic if a grease fire breaks out. The situation can be remedied if they move a pot off the fire or douse it with water. However, Olrich warned that water could make the situation worse.
‘A grease fire with cold water will explode in your face,? said Olrich. He said people should always turn down the heat first then cover the fire or smother it with baking soda.
He said if fire personnel are contacted quickly enough, response crews can move the smoke from the fire out of the home expeditiously, reducing the potential damage.
Olrich also stressed how vital it is to own a functional smoke detector.
‘If you don’t have a working smoke detector, you’re really at risk,? he said, adding that he has never been to a fatal fire where the owners had a working smoke detector.
Detectors should be tested each time a time change occurs, which happens on Oct. 29, Olrich said. The NFPA said detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
In a 2004 phone survey, the NFPA found 96 percent of all homes have at least one smoke detector.
However, according to data produced by the U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Incident Reporting Sysem, detectors were not functional in 25 percent of homes where a fire occured and the equipment was present.
Lorraine Carli, spokesperson for the NFPA, said ‘nearly all the fires we see can be prevented by taking precautions.?
People can simply pay attention to what they are cooking and stay present near the stove, as well as keep flammable objects away from their range to combat cooking fires, she said.
Carli said family escape routes from the home also play an important role in fire safety.