Tinker to observe Fire Prevention Week Published Sept. 28, 2012 By Mike W. Ray Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A variety of activities, starting with a parade and a cookout and including several evacuation drills, are slated Oct. 7-13 at Tinker Air Force Base in observance of Fire Prevention Week. The kickoff parade through base housing is scheduled for Oct. 6, starting at 9 a.m. It is to be followed by a cookout from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Sparky's House, 5357 Chidlaw, sponsored by Balfour Beatty Communities, which manages base housing. Educational events for children are planned every day Oct. 8-12, and evacuation drills will be held at Bldgs. 4064, 400, 10, 1083, 296, 1094 and 3334. The Fire Prevention Trailer will be taken to the Base Exchange on Oct. 8-11. A "muster" is on tap Oct. 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring six-person teams competing in four timed events. A safety briefing by the Civil Engineering Directorate, and a chili cook-off, are scheduled Oct. 12 at Fire Station #1. There also will be a pre-fire plan contest for fourth- and fifth-graders, and a coloring contest for pre-kindergarten youngsters through third graders. The winners of a Family Fire Evacuation Plan and Poster Contest will be announced Oct. 31 at a Tinker Elementary School awards assembly. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate two tragic fires in American history, Tinker Fire Inspector Earnie Baxter related. One was the Great Chicago Fire, which burned for about 37 hours in 1871: from approximately 9 p.m. Oct. 8 to about 10 a.m. Oct. 10. An estimated 250 people were killed, and more than 100,000 -- one-third of the city's population at the time -- were left homeless. The fire destroyed 17,500 buildings in a 3.3 square-mile area, records reflect. The same day the infamous Chicago fire began, the Peshtigo, Wis., forest fire swept across six counties, destroyed a dozen towns and killed a reported 1,152 people -- the most deaths by fire in U.S. history. Fire Muster features four timed events Team Tinker personnel are invited to participate in the third annual Fire Department Muster, which is scheduled Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Capt. David Langford of Tinker Fire and Emergency Services said six-person teams will compete in four timed events: · A bunker drill, where members see how fast they can don Personal Protective Equipment; · A hose relay that tests physical endurance; · A keg push requiring accuracy and strength to maneuver a large fire hose under pressure; · A bucket brigade that tests teamwork and leadership. The events will be conducted at the soccer fields across the street from Child Development Center West and near Tinker Bowling Center and the base theater. Lunch will be provided by Tinker Fire and Emergency Services and by Balfour Beatty. For more information, call Thomas Trello, assistant chief for Operations, or Captain Langford at 734-3971. 'Have 2 Ways Out' in event of a fire Tinker Fire and Emergency Services has teamed up with the non-profit National Fire Protection Association to educate the base about the importance of "Have 2 Ways Out" at home and at work. NFPA reports that, on average, an occupant has less than two minutes to escape a house fire. "This highlights the importance of having and practicing an escape plan, with two ways out and a designated meeting place outside," Tinker Fire Inspector Earnie Baxter said. Also, consider an escape ladder for getting out of second-floor windows, he continued. "Take into account the abilities of any elderly family members and visitors, too." And when visiting a restaurant or a hotel, "take the time -- it requires only a moment -- to assess the safety features before settling in." Fire prevention tips Prevention and early detection are the best ways to protect your family from fire, according to the Tinker Fire and Emergency Services. You can accomplish this by doing the following: -- Check smoke alarms monthly. They are the first notification when something is wrong. -- Never leave cooking unattended. -- Use heating equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. -- Properly dispose of smoking materials. Make sure they are extinguished before disposing of them. -- Don't overload electrical devices or outlets. -- Only use candles away from combustibles, away from children, and attended when lit. -- Keep shrubs trimmed away from homes, and keep grass cut during droughts and wildland fire seasons. -- Develop a home fire escape plan that includes two ways out of each room, and practice your escape plan twice a year. Nationally, home cooking fires top the list as the No. 1 cause of home structure fires and fire injuries. Forty-two percent of all fires and fire injuries reported are associated with cooking. Unattended cooking is the leading factor contributing to these fires. Misuse of home heating equipment was a close second, with half being caused by placing heaters too close to things that will burn. Here in Oklahoma we've been reminded of how uncontrolled vegetation around our homes can contribute to the spread of wildland/urban interface fires in our communities.