KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Fire Department would like to remind citizens that October 9 -15, is Fire Prevention Week, organized each year by the National Fire Protection Association, otherwise known as the NFPA. This years theme is Protect Your Family from Fire, focused on educating families about what causes home fires, how to prevent them, and what to do in an emergency situation.
According to the NFPA, children under five face the highest risk of home fire death. While there was a decrease in fires nationally reported in 2010, there was still a 4 percent increase from the previous year. (Source www.nfpa.org)‚
The Kingsport Fire Department has not had a fire fatality in 4 ‚½ years.
These are just a few reasons why Fire Prevention Week is so important, and we encourage families everywhere to refresh themselves on fire safety tips and practices. www.FirePreventionWeek.org
Important Fire Safety Tips
•Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
•Test alarms at least once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
•Make sure everyone knows your fire escape plan and the sound of your smoke alarm. (Only 1 in 4 families have a plan)
•Consider installing residential sprinklers; the risk of dying from a home fire decreases about 80 percent when sprinklers are present.
•Have a three-bart kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters, and keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
•Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
•If you smoke, smoke outside, and use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table.
•Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
Video and Audio PSAs Resources for Fire Prevention Week can be found at www.nfpa.org‚ or http://tinyurl.com/3moyqbx
Sparky the Fire Dogs‚® 60th Anniversary and the Voice of Sparky Contest
This year marks the 60th birthday of Sparky the Fire Dog‚®, who has been the NFPAs official mascot since 1951. As part of this special anniversary celebration, the NFPA hosted a Voice of Sparky Contest in the spring inviting firefighters and public educators to submit videos of ourselves giving our best Sparky impersonation. Kingsport Fire Departments Public Education Officer Barry Brickey was chosen as the winner!
I am honored to have been chosen to be the voice behind the annual Fire Prevention Week video Sparky and the Runaway Robot. stated Brickey. Video Clips for Sparky and the Runaway Robot can be found on www.FirePreventionWeek.org, along with tip sheets, a fire safety checklist, and a quiz allowing you to test your fire safety knowledge.