Fire Prevention Week sounds the alarm

Today’s home fires burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Fire and Emergency Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere,” which works to educate the public about basic but essential ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire.

NFPA statistics show that the number of U.S. home fires has been steadily declining over the past few decades. However, the death rate per 1,000 home fires that are reported to fire departments was 10 percent higher in 2016 than in 1980. Although significant progress has been made in reducing the number of fires, people are still at greatest risk in their homes, where four out of five U.S. fire deaths occur.

This year’s campaign runs Oct. 7 through 13 and highlights three steps people can take to help quickly and safely escape a fire:

Look for places fire could start. Keep cooking areas clear of clutter, keep anything that can burn well away from heat sources, and make sure electrical outlets aren’t overloaded.

Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. If you hear it, take it seriously – whether you’re at home or any other location.

Learn two ways out of every room. Learn what to do if the smoke alarm sounds: make a home escape plan with all members of your household, then practice it together at least twice a year.

JBER Fire and Emergency Services would like to remind you to make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, in each bedroom, and near all sleeping areas.

Smoke alarms should also be tested once a month to make sure they’re working.

Various events will be held throughout October to raise awareness of home fire risks.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week activities on JBER, visit www.jber.jb.mil/Services-Resources/Fire-Prevention, or searching for JBERFireprevention on Facebook.

To learn more about this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.