Identify Your Two Ways Out During Fire Prevention Week

If a fire strikes your home, do you have time to escape?  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says a house fire can become life-threatening in minutes.  Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue urges you to take a few minutes during Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, 2012, to urge residents to “Have Two Ways Out!” -fire escape planning and practice.

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.   “One home structure was reported every 85 seconds in 2010,” says Dave MacBean, Chief of Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue. “Fire is unpredictable and moves faster than most people realize.  Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways is essential to ensuring your family’s safety should fire break out in your home.” 

Inter-Canyon Fire-Rescue recommends the following tips for planning your family’s escape:

• Install and check proper function of smoke detectors in your home.
• Add a Carbon Monoxide detector to monitor for CO - the silent killer.
• Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they’ve escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.
• Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department (911) on your escape plan.
• Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.
• Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator and remind grown-ups to have your family practice the plan twice a year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.