October is National Fire Prevention Month

  • Published
  • 17th Civil Engineer Squadron
It's time for National Fire Prevention Week. From Oct. 7 through 12 the Goodfellow Fire Emergency Services is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, reminding Goodfellow to prevent kitchen fires.

During this year's fire safety campaign, firefighters will spread the word about the dangers of kitchen fires and how to prevent them.

According to the latest NFPA research, unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two out of every five home fires begin in the kitchen. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries.

"Often when we're called to a fire that started in the kitchen, the residents tell us that they only left the kitchen for a few minutes," said Glenn Haffner, 17th Civil Engineer Squadron fire prevention assistant chief. "Sadly, that's all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. We hope that Fire Prevention Week will help us reach folks in the community before they've suffered a damaging lesson."

To help prevent kitchen fires, follow these basic rules:

·Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling or boiling food.

·If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

·When you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home and use a timer to remind you.

·If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.

·When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.

·Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.

·Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.

NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK SCHEDULE:

Oct. 7, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., fire prevention team and Sparky at the south gate to kick off Fire Prevention Week.

Oct. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., fire truck visit with Sparky at the Child Development Center, Building 906.

Oct. 8 and 9, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., fire prevention education team and Sparky at the Exchange.

Oct. 9, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., mobile safety house and fire truck visit at School Age Program Center, Bldg. 927.

Oct. 10, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Fire Prevention Education Team and mobile fire safety house at the Exchange.

Oct. 11, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Firefighter Competition Muster behind the fire station, Bldg. 3321. Event is open to all Goodfellow Air Force Base affiliates. Must be in a team of four and limit of two teams per shop. Competition events are a ladder climb, extinguisher carry, bucket brigade, dummy drag, hose pull, hose roll, confined space and sledge hammer. Some events may change.

Oct. 11, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the fire station will have an open house. Station tours, snacks, door prizes, fire truck rides and visits by Sparky.

Oct. 12 at 10:00 a.m., fire truck parade through Concho Pearl, on base housing area.

Oct. 12 at 11:00 a.m., fire truck parade through Rio Concho, off base housing area.
For more information on fire safety or to register for the Firefighter Muster, please contact either Jason Garcia or Glenn Haffner at 654-5577.