This Sunday marks the beginning of National Fire Prevention Week and area fire departments are offering activities and advice on how to best keep a home and family safe from a blaze.
To kick off the week, the Chesterfield Township Fire Department will hold their annual open house from 12 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 9 at Fire Station 1, located at 33991 23 Mile Road. Chesterfield Fire Chief Doug Charbonneau said visitors will have the opportunity to speak with firefighters, tour the facility, see several demonstrations and more. Informational exhibits will include a Jaws of Life demonstration, a firefighting simulator and a smokehouse.
"It's good for everyone to get to know what the fire department is about," Charbonneau said.
The same familiarity, charity and the encouragement to eat a home cooked meal is what the New Baltimore Fire Department will be promoting at their Oct. 9 pancake breakfast. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. members of the paid-per-call fire department will be cooking up homemade buttermilk pancakes - some which will have a few chocolate chips thrown in the mix - at the New Baltimore Fire Hall, 36535 Greet St.
Proceeds from this event will go toward several charities and the restoration of the department's antique fire pump. An open house for the department will be held during the breakfast.
While making area residents aware of their fire departments is important, these firefighters also want the citizens to be aware of everyday mistakes that can lead to a fire and tips that can help them avoid injuries and losses.
One of Charbonneau's first recommendations was that every home should have a carbon monoxide and smoke detector, he added many smoke detectors come with one built in.
"There needs to be a huge emphasis on carbon monoxide detectors throughout the house," he said. "There needs to be not just one, but one on every level of the house."
Charbonneau said carbon monoxide can quickly build up in a home from a faulty furnace, hot water tank, chimney or a variety of other appliances in the home. Without a properly-working carbon monoxide detector the deadly gas can go unnoticed, causing serious and potentially deadly problems.
To help ensure other forms of home and fire safety, New Baltimore Fire Department Deputy Chief Brian Bilinski said every home should have at least one fire extinguisher and an escape plan - should a fire breakout. With the escape plan, Bilinski said there should be decided upon routes to exit the home, a designated meeting spot outside the home and a plan for what to do once outside. He said once outside, if someone has a cell phone the first thing they should do is call 911 and tell the dispatcher the address of the home, the family name and if anyone or anything of importance is inside.
"The big thing is not to go back into the home," Bilinksi said.
In such emergency situations chaos easily ensues, which is why practice is needed.
"The plan is great, but if you don't practice it means nothing," he said.
Avoiding fires in the home, or catching them early, can be done by checking hot water heaters, furnaces, chimneys and other household appliances, New Baltimore Fire Chief Ken Lawfield said. He also said it is important to not store items next to these appliances and to make sure flammable liquids are stored in proper containers and away from heat.
Fire safety experts said it is these types of actions that could have helped prevent the 6.9 billion dollars in property damage, the 2,640 civilian deaths and 13,350 civilian injuries that occurred nationwide in 2010, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
In 2009 in Michigan there were 164 civilian fatalities, 756 civilian injuries, one firefighter fatality and 546 firefighter injuries caused by fire and fire related instances, according to the Bureau of Fire Services.
To learn more about fire safety and prevention contact a local fire official.
Contact Courtney Flynn at (586) 716-8100, ext. 301 or courtney.flynn@voicenews.com.
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