Offutt to observe Fire Prevention Week with Open House Published Sept. 25, 2015 By Charles Haymond 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The Offutt Fire Department will join firefighters from across the nation Oct. 4 - 10 in recognizing Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week was created to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 that killed more than 250 people and left 100,000 people homeless. The fire destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. President Calvin Coolidge announced the first ever Fire Prevention Week as an official national observance. The significance of this was very important then and even more now. Accordingly, Offutt's FD will spend the week reflecting on lessons from the past and teaching today's generation about fire prevention to include the life-saving value of smoke alarms in the home. Roughly half of home fire deaths are from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep. Because of this alarming statistic, this year's motto is "Hear the beep where you sleep." To make the home a safer place to live, install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Another huge contributor to home fires is cooking. "Fire safety starts in the kitchen," said David Eblin, 55th Civil Engineering Squadron fire chief. "Cooking, particularly stove-top cooking, represents the leading cause of home fires...it's essential to give anything that's on top of your stove your undivided attention." Fire prevention may start inside the kitchen; however it is vital to practice throughout the home, especially in the winter months when space heaters become prevalent. "They are a major cause of household fires,"Eblin said. "A space heater needs three feet of clear space in all directions. Keep it away from draperies, furniture, bedspreads, people and pets." In 2014, the National Fire Protection Association stated there were nearly 1.3 million fires reported in the U.S., causing 3,275 deaths, 15,775 injuries, and $11.6 billion in property damage. The Offutt FD, through the education and awareness passed on during Fire Prevention Week, hopes to see a significant decrease in these numbers. The schedule of events for Fire Prevention Week is as follows: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015: - Carter Lake Fire Department Open House featuring the Offutt Fire Prevention Trailer Monday, Oct. 5, 2015: - Distribute Fire Prevention week Flyers at the U.S. Strategic Command Gate 6 - 8 a.m. - Fire station tours for local schools 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Demonstrations at the Offutt Exchange 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015: - Fire station tours for local schools 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Station # 2 visit and fire drill at Child Development Center 10 a.m. - Demonstrations at the Offutt Exchange from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015: - Fire station tours for local schools 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Demonstrations at the Main Exchange from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday, 8 October: - Fire station tours for local schools 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Station # 1 visit and fire drill at Child Development Center 10 a.m. - Station # 2 visit and fire drill at Youth Center 4 p.m. - Fire Prevention Trailer to Plattsmouth in the evening for Open House Friday, 9 October: - Fire Fighter of the year presentation by 55th Wing commander 7:25 a.m. Saturday, 10 October: - Fire Station Open House at the Offutt AFB Main Fire Station 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Fun and activities for all ages - Bouncing (castle) fire dog - Fire extinguisher training - Cooking Fire Demonstrations - Smoke Alarm Information - Fire Safety House - Fire Truck And Interactive Displays - Clown /Face Painting - Vehicle Accident Demo (Tentative) - Sparky The Firedog, - Patches & Pumper Those with base access are invited to the Open House. For more information about Fire Prevention Week, contact Bill Dudek or David Andrews at 294-5522.