Presidio of Monterey, CA -- The National Fire Protection Association's Fire Prevention Week is set for Oct. 5-11, and Presidio of Monterey Fire and Emergency Services will participate in activities during the week.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., POM Fire will visit Porter Youth Center with their interactive fire prevention trailer and fire extinguisher trainer. They will conduct briefings, and teach the children how to escape their homes and bedrooms in case of fire or emergency. The youth center staff will be taught how to combat oven fires and fires involving electrical appliances.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. - noon, the fire department will participate in Marina Fire Department's open house at Fire Station 1 in Marina. The Fire Prevention Trailer and extinguisher trailer will be present to support our community partners and military members who live off-post and in the community.
On Thursday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., the Fire Prevention Branch will partner with AAFES and sponsor an informational booth at the Post Exchange located on Ord Military Community. They will provide educational brochures that promote resiliency during emergencies. There will also be a static display of a fire truck and rescue equipment.
On Friday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., the Fire Prevention Section and The Defense Commissary Agency will sponsor an informational booth at the Commissary. They will have educational brochures and a fire truck static display for patrons.
Also on Friday, the Fire Suppression Branch will be back at Porter Youth Center to conduct fire prevention briefings for the children. They will act as judges for a fire prevention poster contest and take on the children in the annual Tug-of-War. The firefighters hope to break a losing streak that reaches back to 2010.
Saturday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., the Annual POM Fire Open House is scheduled to take place at the fire station on Ord Military Community. There will be children's activities, and obstacle course, fire trucks and rescue equipment on display. Sparky the Fire Dog will also be available for photos.
POM Fire wishes to remind everyone that throughout the year the department offers one-on-one car seat inspections and installation classes for families, as well as free blood pressure checks and fire extinguisher inspections for your home extinguishers. You may call (831) 242-7701/7702 to schedule an appointment.
The theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week is "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives - Test Yours Every Month!"
According to the NFPA, roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
The NFPA offers the following tips for proper smoke alarm usage:
• Install smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Larger homes may need additional smoke alarms to provide enough protection.
• For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms so when one sounds they all sound.
• An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) are recommended.
• Install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year.
• If an alarm "chirps," warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested.
• Fire warning equipment is available to awaken people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This equipment uses strobe lights and vibration equipment (pillow or bed shakers) for people who are deaf and mixed-low-frequency signals for people who are hard of hearing. Some of this equipment is activated by the sound of the smoke alarm.
• All smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month using the test button.
The NFPA also warns against the danger of cooking fires. According to the NFPA, the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
The NFPA recommends the following cooking safety tips:
• Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are 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 to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire - oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains - away from your stovetop.
• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• If there is a cooking fire, just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• In the event of a fire, call 911 or the local emergency number after you leave.
• If you try to fight a fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• Keep a lid nearby when you're cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
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