Col. Ron Jolly, 75th Air Base Wing commander, signed the 2015 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation Sept. 28 at Fire Station 1, heralding Oct. 4-10 as Fire Prevention Week throughout Hill Air Force Base.
Throughout the week, the Hill AFB Fire Department is encouraging Team Hill to protect their homes and families by heeding this year’s campaign life safety message which is “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.”
Officials from Hill’s fire department said fire is a serious public safety concern, both locally and nationally.
According to the latest research, working smoke alarms cut in half the chance of dying in a fire. 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. 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.
This year’s campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every house level.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home so when one sounds, they all do.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button and change the batteries yearly.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they reach 10 years old, or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
• Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarms and what to do when they hear it.
During the week, Hill’s fire prevention team held several events to promote this year’s theme. Culminating the activities is the 13th Annual 5/10/14K Fire House Run, which begins at 7 a.m. Oct. 9 at Fire Station 1 (Building 349).
