South San Francisco, CA October 10, 2022 Press Release
The South San Francisco Fire Department (SSFFD) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) – the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week TM – to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, 2022.
This year’s campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.
“Today’s homes burn hotter and faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advanced planning,” said South San Francisco Fire Chief Jess Magallanes.
“It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different,” said South San Francisco Fire Marshal Ian Hardage. “Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!”
The South San Francisco Fire Department wants to share these key home fire escape planning tips:
Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound.
Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.
Did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries? In addition to sharing home fire escape fire planning tips, the SSFFD has these tips when it comes to cooking:
Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains – away from your stovetop.
During this year’s Fire Prevention Week, the SSFFD is educating high school juniors and seniors about the importance of fire safety, in addition to providing hands-only CPR and bleeding control training. The SSFFD has been doing this every other year for more than ten years for our high school students.
Click here to download tip sheets on the top five fire causes: cooking, heating, electrical, smoking, and candles.
