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                         October 4, 2002

'Team up for Fire Safety' - - It's Fire Prevention Week

Submitted by the WPFD

The West Point Fire and Emergency Services Division invite everyone to help celebrate National Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is "Team Up For Fire Safety."

The theme encourages fire departments to team up with community partners to spread the message that fire safety saves lives. If you live, work, play or just visit West Point you are a partner. This year’s campaign focuses on fire safety and prevention.

The National Fire Protection Association has officially sponsored the last 80 Fire Prevention Weeks.

This year’s "Team Up For Safety" campaign is broken up into 3 parts -- Smoke Detectors, Escape Plans and Home Hazards.

Smoke detectors are the first line of defense for the protection of life and property. They provide the critical notification to facility occupants in the event of a fire.

For the residents living in West Point housing, it is important that you test your smoke detector at least once a month by using the smoke detector test button. Never use an open flame device to attempt to activate the detector.

Cadets or employees residing or working in a USMA building with a fire alarm system, should visually observe that the smoke detector is in place and secured to the base. If the detector is missing from its base or dangling by its wires, it may not work when there is a fire. Contact the Building Commandant to have the detector replaced or reinstalled.

Every USMA building that is occupied by humans must have an escape plan.

Developing, testing and implementing escape plans can mean the difference between life and death. Fire can grow and spread very rapidly whether it is in a home, barracks or office building. It is of utmost importance as to how you react whenever a smoke detector or fire alarm system sounds.

For a home escape plan, pull together everyone in your household and make a fire escape plan. Draw a floor plan of your home, showing two ways out of each room, including windows. Make sure everyone understands the escape routes.

Decide where the best location is going to be for the designated meeting place. A family member can go out any door, but always go to the designated meeting place and stay there.

Use a neighbor’s or cell phone to call 9-1-1. It is important that you never go back inside the burning building for any reason once you are safely outside.

If you reside in the barracks, guesthouse or hotel, know where the exits and stairwells are located.

Look at the Fire Prevention Plan that should be posted on each floor and by each exit. Look up and down the corridor. Go to either the left or right side of the corridor and count the number of doors between your room and the stairwell door that will lead you to safety and outdoors. If a corridor should become filled with smoke during a fire, it is an easy and quick task to count the number of doors till you find the stairwell door.

Remember, when the fire alarm sounds, treat it as a real emergency and get out of the building to a designated meeting place as soon as possible.

In the home kitchens are the source of many residential fires.

Unattended cooking is one of the leading causes for these fires. Never leave cooking food on the stove unattended and keep a close eye on foods that are cooking in the oven. Keep all cooking areas clear and completely unobstructed of any combustible materials, such as potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food containers.

Another leading cause of fires in the home is candles. Candles should be monitored continuously, in candleholders that will not tip over and big enough to catch any burning wax. The candle should be lighted and extinguished by an adult.

Discarded smoking materials are another cause of fire in the home. If someone smokes, take all of the needed precautions to make it as safe as possible. Use ashtrays that are large and deep enough so as not to easily tip over. Douse all cigarette and cigar butts with water before going to bed. Keep all lighters and matches away from children. Do not smoke upstairs especially in the bedroom.

Flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene and propane are highly flammable. Make sure that when these combustible liquids are stored, they are not stored in the home.

The best place to store them is in a flammable storage cabinet. If a flammable storage cabinet is not available then store them in an outside shed or garage.

Portable space heaters are another cause of accidental fires. If a portable space heater is purchased make sure it has an automatic shut off device built in.

When a space heater is used, make sure there is at least 3 feet of clear, unobstructed area around each side of the heater and that all combustible materials are removed from around the heater before it is turned on.

Any resident or cadet company who would like a courtesy home inspection should call the Fire Prevention Branch at 938-7484 or 938-7483. We are ready to answer all concerns and questions.

Please join our team and help keep the community safe.