Smoke detector safety promoted during fire prevention week

Fire Prevention Week 2014 is this week, and local fire departments are spreading awareness by talking about this year’s theme, which emphasizes smoke detector safety.

The Kimball Fire Department visited Mary Lynch Elementary school and taught children about fire safety on Wednesday. The fire department also hosted an open house at the fire station on Wednesday evening.

It is important for fire safety to be taught at a young age, said Steve Watson, a Kimball Fire Department representative. Teaching fire safety at a young age will allow it to become habit.

“Since the majority of fires are started by humans, teaching fire safety has a huge benefit. We are the main cause of fires and we need to make sure we are educating people about how to be safe,” Watson said.

There are some startling facts and statistics concerning smoke alarms. Sixty percent of reported home fire deaths from 2007 to 2011 happened in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Hardwired smoke alarms operate 93 percent of the time and battery operated smoke alarms operate about 79 percent of the time.

These are statistics that people need to take into account. A working smoke alarm can be the difference between life and death when it comes to fires.

In order to keep a smoke alarm in operating order, it is suggested that they should be tested once a month. A smoke alarm test is easily performed. Smoke alarms will have a button that allow the user to press and test whether or not the alarm is in working order. The alarm will sound when the button is pressed if the alarm is in working order. This simple test will let you know if you should change the batteries.

Another feature that most smoke alarms have is that when the batteries are low, the alarm will beep at regular intervals. While this is a nuisance it will alert the user that new batteries are needed.

Not only is it important to pay attention to smoke alarms, but with winter on its way more and more people will be turning on their heaters. The main component to heating equipment fires is the failure to properly clean the heater. Another major hazard when considering heaters is when upholstered furniture, clothes, bedding or mattresses are placed too close to a heating mechanism. Space heaters are often a danger, since they catch items placed to close to them on fire.

It is important that people take a moment to evaluate where their heat is coming from and make sure nothing is too close. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires, fire deaths and fire injuries.

With fall starting, people may want to make their homes smell cozy with autumn scents. This will often happen by using candles. On average, 32 home candle fires are reported every day. More than one-third of those fires started in a bedroom, and three in five of those start due to items being set too close to the candle.

When burning a candle, responsible people should make sure it is not too close to anything that could catch fire.

The Kimball Fire Department encourages members of the community to practice fire safety, and to remember to test their smoke alarms. Families and individuals alike should have a fire escape plan, so that everyone can escape the home safely in the event of a fire. This plan should be practiced so that everyone knows it and can complete it without confusion.

Fire prevention may seem like common sense, but it is something that everyone must be reminded to practice.

“We want everyone to pay attention and to be safe. Participating in Fire Prevention Week helps us educate people so they can make smart decisions that could save their lives,” Watson said.