Fire Safety Education

Our department schedules events within Forest City limits to educate the public on Fire Prevention, Safety Classes and Home Inspections. We demonstrate these programs with schools, libraries, churches, daycare facilities, etc. within our community.

On average, someone died in a fire every three hours and someone was injured every 33 minutes in 2013. Approximately 85% of these fire deaths occurred in homes. Are you aware that most of the deaths occurred from toxic gases and not from burns? Did you know that more than half of these deaths happened in homes that did not have a working smoke alarm? Prevention of these tragedies can be accomplished so easily. Please read the selections below to find out more information on protecting yourself and your family from the devastation of fire loss, injury or even death.

Smoke is responsible for three out of four fire deaths. A smoke alarm can buy valuable minutes for a person to escape safely from a fire. An alarm should be installed on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. Test all smoke alarms once a month and change batteries twice a year. A good way to keep up with your batteries is to change them when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings. You should make sure that everyone living in your home is familiar with the sound of your smoke alarm. (FAQ for Smoke Detector Program)

HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN

Every household should establish and practice an emergency escape plan. In the event of a fire in your home, all members need to know two ways out of every room. If a member of the home may need help getting out, a person to help them should be decided. After getting out of the home and away from danger, everyone should be aware of the "safe meeting place". This helps to identify who should go to a phone to dial 911 and also if anyone has not made it out, you will know so that you can notify the fire department upon their arrival. Remember once you are out, stay out. Never go back inside of a burning structure for any reason. It is a firefighter's job to help rescue anyone who may still be inside.

DIAL 911

Do not try to call 911 from inside of a burning house. Go to a neighbor's, use a cell phone or go to a nearby payphone. Please remind the operator not only of your address, but the property county. This will help reduce response time.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

There are three basic types of fire extinguishers: Type A, B and C. Type A extinguishers are for wood, paper, or fabric fires. Type B is for grease, oil and other flammable liquid fires. Type C is for electrical fires. You can purchase ABC extinguishers that are useful on all of these fire types.

Another important thing to remember about extinguishers is the PASS acronym: Pull - Aim - Squeeze - Sweep. Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the fire of the base, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep back and forth.

Never try to fight a fire that is larger than the fire extinguisher. Call 911!

IF YOU CATCH FIRE

If your clothes catch on fire: Stop what you are doing, Drop to the ground, and Roll all the way over until the fire is out. Never run: running fans the flame and will cause a fire to grow.