Published: October 08, 2008 12:25 pm            

Firefighters teaching fire safety, prevention this month

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

A new generation is getting a lesson in the old adage “stop, drop and roll” this week during the annual Fire Prevention Week.

As explained by the National Fire Protection Association’s Web site, “Through the week of Oct. 5, fire safety advocates will spread the word to their communities that, with a little extra caution, preventing the leading causes of home fires — cooking, heating, electrical and smoking-materials — is within their power.”

Jacksonville, Rusk and other volunteer fire departments across Cherokee County visited schools and day cares to help teach local children how to prevent fires and what to do in the event of a house fire.

Jacksonville fire fighters are visiting classes throughout the month of October.

Firefighters with Rusk Fire Department took a couple Rusk day care classes on tours of the fire house and on rides on a fire engine last week and will be visiting classes in Rusk and Wells school districts all this week.

“The biggest change is the “stop, drop and roll” had become “stop, drop, cover and roll,” Rusk firefighter Terry Phillips said. “We’ve always told kids to cover their faces as they roll. Making it a part of the saying helps them to remember it better.”

According to the NFPA, in 2007 there were 1,557,500 fires reported in the U.S. — 530,500 were structure fires which caused 3,000 civilian deaths, 15,350 civilian injuries, and $10.6 billion in property damage.

Fire officials report the leading cause of most home fires is cooking.

“We all take cooking for granted — turning on the stovetop, adding oil to the pan, frying the onions and then the doorbell rings,” Lake Palestine East Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary L. Cannon said in a written statement. “You go to the door and a neighbor has a package for you. You start talking and a few seconds goes into a few minutes. Suddenly you hear your smoke alarms sound. You are experiencing the number one cause of home fire cooking — specifically unattended cooking.”

Lake Palestine East Volunteer Fire Department shared these tips to prevent a cooking fire.

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove;

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking;

• Be alert when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs or consumed alcohol;

• If you have a cooking fire and are in doubt, just get out and call the fire department; and

• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.

National Fire Protection Association has been providing fire, electrical, building and life safety to the public since 1896. Visit the Web site at www.nfpa.org.

        

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