Fire Prevention Week kicks off Oct. 9

Published Sept. 30, 2011
By Airman Shane M. Phipps
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The nation-wide annual Fire Prevention Week will be held Oct. 9-15, with the theme of "protecting your family from fire."

Here on MHAFB, the fire department will be conducting multiple activities geared toward raising safety awareness and helping families become better prepared in case of a fire.

Activities will begin Monday, Oct. 10 and include visits to the school and Base Exchange, fire safety handouts, extinguisher training, and, for the kids, Sparky the friendly fire prevention mascot will be making an appearance.

Due to the rapid speed in which fires can spread, it is essential for families to have pre-planned routes of escape. According to the website, www. nfpa.org, fires can leave as little as two minutes to escape safely.

With an emphasis on protecting families, Staff Sgt. Kurt Trausch, noncommissioned officer in charge of fire prevention, wants to stress the importance of this year's theme.

"Family is precious and you want to be there and protect them in all aspects, so it is vital that people take advantage of the week and learn ways they can better defend themselves and their families from fire," said Trausch.

For more information, contact the MHAFB fire prevention office at 208-828-6292.