Fire Prevention Week: How to keep your home safe this season

Yuma Fire Department is recognizing the week of October 7 through October 13 as Fire Prevention Week.

The theme for this year’s week is “Look, Listen, Be Aware- Fire can happen anywhere”.

This acts as a reminder to residents to take responsibility in reducing the risk of fires.

Each day of the week will highlight different aspects of prevention.

The first national recognition of fire prevention was in 1911 on the 40th anniversary of “The Great Chicago Fire,” which killed at least 250 people on October 9, 1871.

In addition to deaths, “100,000 were left homeless, more than 17,000 structures and 2000 acres burned in only 27 hours,” according to a press release by Mike Erfert with Yuma Fire Department.

In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week.

Though many new efforts have been made to protect life and property, Erfert said, “Thousands still die in fires every year in the United States.”

Each year from 2011 through 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 358,500 home structure fires.

On average these fires resulted in 2,510 civilian fire fatalities, 12,300 civilian injuries, and $6.7 billion in damage annually.

On average, seven people per day die in U.S. home fires.

This upcoming holiday season, YFD is encouraging residents to take precautions to keep themselves and others safe.

One of the main focuses Erfert encourages residents is to make sure they have a working smoke alarm.

Erfert said about 50 percent of fatal fires occur when people do not have working smoke alarms.

Fires double in size quickly and poisonous gases from smoke can be highly dangerous.

In addition to fire alarms, space heaters should have at least three feet of space around it.

Modern space heaters can turn themselves off if tipped over which are safer for homes.

More fires occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas most often caused by unattended or distracted cooking.

Candles, used in decorations, need to be put in holders that will not cause it to tip over when lit.

To read about each day of Fire Prevention Week, visit Yuma Fire Department’s website.