'Practice your escape plan"'for fire prevention week Published Sept. 25, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office MALMSTORM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Malmstrom's fire department is hosting several activities for the upcoming fire prevention week, Oct. 7 to 13. This year's theme for fire prevention week is "Practice your escape plan." Fire drills are important for all dormitories, apartment buildings and other high-rise structures. The basics of escape planning are essential to know, from identifying ways out of every room to crawling low to avoid toxic smoke, and the importance of practicing how to respond in an emergency, said John Gilmore, the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief. Mr. Gilmore's safety tips for dormitory and apartment complex dwellers include: know the plan, practice, never use the elevator, stay low, seal in for safety, stay by windows and signal to firefighters. Create an evacuation plan He said people need to be sure to be familiar with a building's evacuation plan and participate in building drills when they take place. People should find an escape-planning grid for the building and make an escape plan, making sure to mark various stairways in case one is blocked by fire. Also, smoke from fire is toxic and deadly no matter what kind of structure the fire occurs in. During drills, everyone should practice crawling on their hands and knees low under the smoke. If exit from the building is impossible due to smoke or fire in the hallway, call the fire department to report the exact location and gather in a room with a window to wait for their arrival. If a window is able to be opened, open it to get some fresh air. Finally, when the fire department arrives, wave a flashlight or light colored cloth to let them know the location. "Fire prevention week is an annual emphasis on fire safety and this year's theme being "Practice your escape plan" is not only an emphasis on escape and knowing how to get out of your building, but also to make sure everyone else knows where to go and what the plan is after you get out of the building," said Daniel Dodson, Malmstrom's deputy fire chief. "This information is as good for work as it is for home." Fires in the office As far as fires in the office, planning ahead and staying calm can mean the difference between safety and injury, Mr. Gilmore said. In the office, it is important to know the location of the nearest fire alarm and know how to use it. It is also important to know the location of the two nearest fire exits and the doors, desks and work stations that stand between the office and the exits. Not panicking is priority in the event of an office fire. People must always call 911 and should not assume someone has already called for help. Feel a door handle with the back of your hand and feel the door itself, starting from the bottom and moving to the top. If the door is too hot do not open it. If it's cool, open it slowly and shut it quickly if fire or smoke rushes in. Then leave quickly, closing doors along the way to contain fire and smoke, and as always, stay near the ground. In the event that an escape is impossible from the office fire, remain calm and close as many doors as possible between the fire and your workspace. Seal all the cracks where smoke could enter by using wet materials. Call for help and signal the location by a window, then remain calm while awaiting the rescue team's arrival. Safety in the home In either environment, candles and cooking can be two very hazardous things in starting fires. In 2006, candle fires killed 190 people and caused more than a quarter of a million dollars in property damage in the United States, according to the latest data from the National Fire Protection Agency. That data also shows candles started more reported home fires from 2001 to 2007 than at any point since 1980, which was the first year of available data. "Used safely, candles can fill our homes with fragrance and create a calming and welcome mood," Mr. Gilmore said. "They add glow to the holidays and are an important part of religious observations, but what you may not realize is how easily a fire can start when a candle is left unattended or left burning while someone sleeps." Some tips to avoid a candle disaster include placing candles on stable furniture; never leaving a candle unattended; using flashlights if the power goes out, not candles; never placing lit candles in windows; not allowing children to have candles in their bedrooms; and for gel candles, the gel used in these candles can catch fire, creating a high flame, which can result in nearby combustibles catching fire and burning consumers. Gel candles have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and should not be used. More fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home. There are many ways to avoid this danger, including: staying by the stove while cooking; making sure children are away from cooking areas; keeping anything that could catch fire, such as pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensil or paper bags, away from your stove top; and being careful with microwave ovens. If a fire does occur in the kitchen, follow these steps for safety: If there is a fire in the microwave, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out and unplug the appliance. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from escaping. Also, keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of an emergency. "We look forward to fire prevention week every year," Mr. Gilmore said. "In the past five years, Malmstrom has done an outstanding job in dormitories and base facilities because first sergeants and supervisors take the time to instill the importance of fire prevention year-round. This week we can highlight fire prevention and it's our time to shine." Fire prevention week activities: Oct. 7 - Children's fire truck ride at the Child Development Center, 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 - Announce winners of children's poster contest at Loy Elementary Oct. 9 - Visit day care homes with Sparky the Firedog and a fire truck, 8 a.m. Visit base library with Sparky and a fire truck, 10 a.m. Oct. 10 - Fire education display at the BX. Visit CDC with Sparky and a fire truck at 9 a.m. Oct. 11 - Fire education display at the BX. Great Falls Fire Rescue trailer from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tours of the fire department, 9 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Call 731-3560 to schedule. Oct. 12 - Tours of the fire department, 9 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Call 731-3560 to schedule. Oct. 13 - Fire prevention display with the fire education trailer and a fire truck display at the BX parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a fire truck parade at 2:15 p.m.