Fire Department urges residents to ‘have two ways out’

  • Published
  • By Hanscom Fire Department
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  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 nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, one-third of American households estimate they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life threatening. Unfortunately, the time available is often less.
 
That is why Hanscom's Fire Department is teaming up with NFPA during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7 through 13, to urge residents to "Have Two Ways Out." This year's theme focuses on the importance of a fire escape plan and practicing it.

In 2010, 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.

"One home structure fire was reported every 8.5 seconds in 2010," said Mark Webb, Hanscom Fire Department assistant chief. "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 a fire break out in your home."

Hanscom Fire Department recommends the following tips for planning a family's escape:

· Make a map of the 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 the home. This is where everyone can meet once they have escaped. Draw a picture of the outside meeting place on the escape plan.
· Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on the escape plan.
· Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice the escape plan with everyone living in the home.
· Keep the escape plan on the refrigerator and remind grown-ups to have the entire family practice the plan twice a year, or whenever anyone in the home celebrates a birthday.

The Hanscom Fire Department will host several activities throughout Fire Prevention Week to promote "Have Two Ways Out." The culminating event is the Fire Prevention Walk at Castle Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 13. The entire Hanscom community is invited to attend.

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 at Hanscom, contact the Fire Department at 781-225-5601 or email mark.webb@hanscom.af.mil.

To learn more about "Have Two Ways Out," visit www.firepreventionweek.org.