Archived News Release from 2011

For Immediate Release

Fire Prevention Week is October 9 – 15 – Redwood City Fire Department Encourages Residents to “Protect Your Family From Fire!”

Redwood City, CA - September 30, 2011 - The best way for community members to protect their families from fire is to be ahead of the game, and take steps now to reduce fire danger in the home. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports more than 360,000 home fires occurred nationwide in 2009 – that’s why the Redwood Fire Department is teaming up with the NFPA during the October 9 - 15, 2011, to let our communities know this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme – “It’s Fire Prevention Week - Protect your Family from Fire!” This year’s campaign focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires - cooking, heating and electrical equipment, candles, and smoking materials. The NFPA and the fire department urge the community to protect their homes and families with life-saving technology and good fire-safe planning.

“In 2009, 2,565 people died in home fires nationwide. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed,” says Fire Marshal Jim Palisi. “Fire is a dangerous opponent, but by anticipating the hazards, you are much less likely to be one of the nearly 13,000 people injured in home fires each year.”

The Redwood City Fire Department offers the following tips for protecting home and family from fire:

• Develop and practice an escape plan, and make sure everyone in your home knows how to respond if the smoke alarm sounds.
• Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home (including the basement). Test monthly, replace every 10 years or if they do not respond to test
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters
• Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords
• If you smoke, smoke outside
• Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table
• Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
• If you are building or remodeling your home, consider installing home fire sprinklers.

The Redwood City Fire Department encourages residents to visit their local fire stations and speak with firefighters about protecting their family, pets, and homes from fire and other hazards. Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the power of prevention and available technologies to protect their families from fire.

The end of daylight savings time is November 6th – and that’s a perfect opportunity to test smoke alarms and replace batteries. A working smoke alarm is the family’s first line of defense in case of fire. Here’s an easy way to remember: “change your clock – change your smoke alarm batteries.”

More information on fire prevention week and fire safety activities can be found at NFPA’s website at www.firepreventionweek.org. For additional information on fire prevention and disaster preparation, visit www.redwoodcity.org/fire. 

Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter and other City documents by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov.

###

Contact:
Jim Palisi, Fire Marshal
Redwood City Fire Department
(650) 780-7400