May 18, 2002, fire that destroyed a nearly finished 21 unit building at Chase Court Apartments, 1942 Stewart Ave.

Every day Americans experience the horror of fire.  It’s when we begin to understand fire that we can begin to prevent and prepare for fires.  By taking a few simple steps you can help prevent fires in your home and be prepared to escape if a fire does start.  Click here (www.fireextinguisher.com) for an interactive fire training you and your family can do at home to learn and prepare for fires.

Here are a few NFPA survey findings from the Escape Planning sheet:

• Only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
• While 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 45% of those have practiced it.
• One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less.
• And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!

The preparation of the home cooked meal is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. Unattended cooking accounts for 33% of these fires. Other leading causes are placing combustibles items too close to the heat source and various electrical defects.

Here are some safe cooking tips from Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical:

• Stay in the kitchen
• Wear short or tight fitting sleeves
• Regularly clean your cooking equipment
• Keep the area around the stove clean of items that could catch on fire
• Know proper steps for putting out a cooking fire

By planning ahead, you can do a lot to prevent a fire.  But once a fire starts in your home, you should activate your escape plan.  Do you have a fire escape plan at home, work, and school? Here are some tips for making your escape plan from the National Fire Protection Association:

• MAKE a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
• Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.
• Practice using different ways out.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Close doors behind you as you leave.

Here is an escape plan template from the Fire Safety Council to help you make your plan!