Planning ahead helps save lives when fires occur

FCFD marks Fire Prevention Week

This is National Fire Prevention Week, and the Forrest City Fire Department is preparing to visit schools in the area to share fire safety tips with children.

FCFD Fire Prevention Officer Justin Sharp said the department is working to get into local schools to teach children what to do if they are ever faced with a fire.

"We plan to be back in the schools soon with our programs," said Sharp. "We hope to work with the kids on fire prevention and safety. We want to remind everyone of all the different things they can do to prevent fire and what they can do if they find themselves in a fire to get out as safely as possible."

Sharp said that with the arrival of fall and the weather starting to get a little cooler, space heater usage will become more prevalent, so the public should know and understand the risks.

"The weather is changing from summer to fall so we will begin seeing the use of space heaters again," said Sharp. "People should make sure to not plug a space heater up with an extension cord. Extension cords are not made to be permanent electrical fixtures within a home. They are for temporary use. Space heaters can pose a significant fire and electrical shock threat if they are not used properly. Never leave a space heater unattended. These radiant heaters heat nearby objects and they can ignite a fire if flammable materials are too close to the heater. If a space heater is used, it should be sitting on a level surface, away from all flammable materials."

According to Sharp, closing doors before going to sleep and crawling to get out of a home if it i son fire are both things that increase the chances of surviving a fire.

"We have learned different tips and sayings through the years that can help people remember what to do in the event of a fire and how they can be prepared," said Sharp. "We say 'close before you doze,’ which means close your bedroom door before going to sleep. This increases the survivability of a house fire. 'Stay low and go' is one we also teach students, which trains them that if they are in a structure fire to crawl on the ground until they get to safety. This keeps them out of a lot of the smoke and especially the superheated gases that are created during a structure fire."

Sharp said people should mark Nov. 7 on their calendars to remember to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

"We also strongly suggest having fire drills and a fire plan at home with your families," said Sharp. "Set up a meeting place that is a safe distance from the home where the family can meet up in the event of the fire and practice these drills on a regular basis. In preparation, people should also be changing the batteries of their smoke alarms whenever they change the time of their clocks in their homes. Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m., on Nov. 7 this year. As you turn your clocks back one hour, change the battery in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The rotation of batteries in these devices is essential for early warnings of dangerous situations."