423rd CES Fire Emergency Services urges our community to 'Have Two Ways Out!'

  • Published
  • By Assistant Fire Chief Eric Pietrylo
  • 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services
RAF ALCONBURY --  If you woke up to a fire in your home, how much time do you think you would have to get to safety? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one-third of American households estimate they thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life threatening. Unfortunately, the time available is often much less.

This is why the 423rd CES Fire Emergency Services Flight is teaming up with NFPA during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7 to 13. This week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 fire that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began Oct. 8, but did most of its damage Oct. 9.

The 423rd CES Fire Emergency Services Flight urges everyone to "Have Two Ways Out!" This year's theme focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.

In 2011, 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.

"In the U.S., a structure fire was reported every 85 seconds in 2011," said Fire Chief Ralph Barone, 423rd CES Fire Emergency Services Flight. "Fire is unpredictable and moves faster than most people realize. Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways out is essential to ensuring your family's safety should fire break out in your home."

The 423rd CES Fire Emergency Services Flight recommends the following tips for planning your family's escape:
· 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, 911 or 01480841911 (on-base) and 999 (off-base) for the fire department 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 have your family practice the plan twice a year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.
The 423rd CES Fire Emergency Services Flight is hosting activities during Fire Prevention Week to promote the "Have Two Ways Out!" fire prevention week campaign. Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the importance of fire escape planning and practice, as well as the power of prevention.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities for the Tri-base, contact the 423rd CES Fire Emergency Services Flight at 268-3010. To learn more about the "Have Two Ways Out!" campaign visit NFPA's website.