Fire Prevention Week highlights fire safety

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- On October 9, 1871, a tragic fire, later named the Great Chicago Fire, killed more than 250 people, left more than 100,000 people homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

Since 1922, the National Fire Prevention Association has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week on the week of October 9 in commemoration of this devastating fire.

“Our main priority during this time is to educate children on fire safety practices and procedures,” said Peter Delillo, 7th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department assistant chief of fire prevention. “During this week, we get children and their families used to seeing the firefighters, teach them how to report a fire, teach them the proper procedures for how to get out of a fire emergency and more. We want to make sure that people are exposed to these practices from an early age in hopes to make fire safety common knowledge.”

During Fire Prevention Week, people are able to learn how to prevent a fire and how to react and escape safely in the event of one. This year’s Fire Prevention Week motto is Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.

“This week serves as a chance for us to educate the base populous through hands-on activities and displays so that Airmen and their families know what to do in the event of a fire,” said Staff Sgt. Clinton Moore, 7th CES fire inspector.

Some of the events the 7th CES Fire Department held were an engine display at the Youth Center and Child Development Center, a meet and greet with Sparky the Fire Dog, a firefighter challenge and a smoke house for evacuation procedures.

Those that participated in this week’s events were taught numerous fire safety tips that could possibly save their lives one day.

“The most important tip I can give to anybody would be to educate yourself and your family about fire safety before there is an emergency,” said Moore. “Make a plan of where to meet up if there’s a fire in your house, tell your children how to escape from a fire and most importantly know what common everyday things will start a fire, such as too much lint in your lint traps or exposed electrical wires.”

In a fire emergency, being ready and knowing the proper procedures for escaping a disaster is vital.

According to the NFPA, seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy.

“The Fire Department is an emergency response organization, but we have a huge educational responsibility as well,” said Delillo. “It’s our job to put out the fires, but it’s also our job to get out in the community and let people know how to stop a fire before it starts. We don’t want the emergency to be the first time that you get to see us.”