Fire departments stress safety during fire prevention week

BARSTOW — The Barstow Fire Protection District, along with fire departments across the country, want people to get out and stay out.

During national fire prevention week, which started on Sunday, the Barstow fire district and other departments in the area will stress the importance of practicing an escape plan in the event of the fire. Douglas Bell, a fire prevention specialist with the district, said each year, fire departments stress a different aspect of fire safety during the week.

“We them to be able to know their primary way out and if that's way blocked, have a secondary route,” Bell said. “It's important to know the way out and to have a central meeting place.”

On Sunday, the Barstow district and fire departments from Fort Irwin, the Marine Corps. Logistics Base, Barstow, Yermo, Daggett and Newberry Springs set up displays about fire prevention and brought out their equipment. Fire crews will set up similar displays throughout the week. Bell and crews from the Barstow district will also visit all of the elementary school in the Barstow Unified School District to talk about fire prevention. Bell said the departments want to target as many family as their kids as possible during the week.

“What I want to do is get the word out to the kids,” Bell said. “And we're going to reach a little older audience.”

To do that, the Barstow district will jump across the street and set up a display at the skate park on Wednesday afternoon. Bell said it is important for parents to talk to their children about what to do in the case of a fire. He said kids should not try to hide under beds or in closets during a fire so fire fighters can know who is in the house and out. And once out, Bell said, stay out.

“Kids need to know that once they get out the fire, they need to stay out,” Bell said. “They only thing that can't be replaced is them.”

The fire district will also show people who to change the batteries in their smoke detectors and pass out information about their smoke detector give away plan for people who cannot afford one.

Even though fire departments across the country heavily stress fire prevention during one week, Bell said everyone should practice fire prevention the whole year.

“All house fires are preventable, to some degree,” Bell said. “The only thing you can't prevent is the malicious action of some lighting a fire or an act of nature.”

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger started fire prevention a week early in Barstow on at the Oct. 1 City Council meeting. Mike Chrisman, California's Secretary for Resources, and Chief Ruben Grijalva, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, presented the Barstow district with a proclamation from the governor commending their work in fire prevention.

“Fire prevention is critical to protecting life and property,” Chrisman said at the meeting. “What you do here in Barstow serves as a beacon to the rest of the state of California.”

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Fire prevention safety tips

Outside the home

• Clear 30 feet around the house of debris

• Clear debris from burn areas

• Keep trees, bushes and shrubs pruned

Inside the home

• Only store oily rags in airtight, fireproof containers

• Do not store large quantities of gasoline

• Have at least one smoke detector on each floor or one outside each room

• Only use extension chords temporarily

• Use electrical appliances properly and do not over load outlets

• Pay attention while cooking and keep pots and pans handles turned in

• Keep all matches and lighters away from children

Source: Barstow Fire Protection District