Columbus AFB Fire Department urges residents: Working smoke alarms save lives

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  • Columbus AFB Fire Department
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Fire Prevention Week kicks off at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, with a parade through the base housing areas beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 4. The week continues through Oct. 11.

During this year's fire safety campaign, the Columbus AFB Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association to remind local residents to 'test your smoke alarms every month.' Firefighters and safety advocates will be spreading the word about the dangers of fires -- most of which result from unattended cooking -- and teaching local residents how to check for working smoke alarms.

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

"In a fire, seconds count," said Scott Romero, Columbus AFB Fire Inspector. "Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out." 

Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates emphasize are:
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.

Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.

Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don't respond properly.

Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. It is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.



Fire Prevention Week Schedule of Events
Oct. 4: Fire Department parade through base housing, 9 a.m. starting @Fire Station
Oct. 4: Open House, 10 a.m. @Fire Station
Oct. 5: Movie on the lawn, 7 p.m. @field next to Fire Station
Oct. 9: Base Fire Expo, 11 a.m. @Exchange
Oct. 10: Columbus City FD vs. Columbus AFB FD annual softball game, 5 p.m. @field 1 next to Freedom Park