Battling the blaze: fire prevention is everyone’s job Published Feb. 26, 2010 By John Stuart Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- When the Tinker firemen had extinguished the flames it was too late to save the cargo. The damage was done and $35,000 of airplane parts lay ruined on the transport palette. Although a costly fire, it only took a few moments and the simple spark of a stray cigarette butt to cause a fire that day in 2009. Even though last year was a quiet one for the Tinker Fire Department, the burned airplane parts represented a significant fire loss -- the year's costliest. But it also signifies a needless incident, showing there's always a call for more fire prevention awareness, according to Scott Bloxham, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention at Tinker. On the whole, Tinker patrons are very conscious about keeping the flames at bay. Chief Bloxham commended the base community for their purposeful dedication to be fire-free. But the chief is also aware it only takes a single spark from one individual to start a blaze. Certainly there is much at stake. Chief Bloxham stressed several factors for fire safety: Restrict smoking to approved areas only. Uncontrolled smoking and careless disposal of smoking wastes is a major threat to on-the-job fires. Individuals should maintain a clean and orderly workplace and avoid using overloaded, damaged or flawed electrical circuits. Ensure flammable liquid containers are closed and stored in proper place. In the event a fire does breakout, individuals should know what to do. Chief Bloxham said every household or work organization should have an evacuation plan pre-formulated in case of fire. And everyone should know how to report fires to the proper authorities. To aid authorities, individuals calling from a cell phone to report a fire should inform the dispatcher they are calling from on base. "Have a plan whether in your home or work place," Chief Bloxham said. "Assess what the hazards are in your area and what your ignition sources are; primarily electricity, cooking equipment and flammable liquids or hazardous materials." The Tinker Fire Department wants to build on this foundation of empowering individuals to prevent fires. Base officials recently rolled out a base-wide Voluntary Protection Program to do just this. The safety program is a nationwide effort to curb workplace mishaps and could save lives while diminishing property losses. Empowering individuals helps prevent fires. Building on that foundation will only ensure that the base's mission doesn't go up in a puff of smoke. Starting in March, Tinker firemen will be turning their anti-fire education up a few degrees. A new $80,000 custom-built trailer will allow the firemen to easily educate the Tinker public about fire prevention through hands-on demonstrations. The trailer outreach program will be aimed especially at children, Chief Bloxham explained, and will feature a live "hot room" where firemen will demonstrate the effectiveness of overhead sprinklers, which Bloxham wishes were installed in every home in America. Although a rule for most federal buildings, currently there are no laws requiring overhead fire sprinklers in single family residents. But the veteran fireman is pleased that a number of new multi-family housing units on base will count the potentially life-saving sprinklers among their amenities. "We have to credit the people for our low fire-loss rate," Chief Bloxham said. "They're doing a lot of stuff right, but there's a lot of potential out there." Prevention in the workplace ·Restrict smoking to approved areas only. Uncontrolled smoking and careless disposal of smoking wastes is a major hazard ·Maintain a clean and orderly workplace ·Routinely inspect the workplace to identify fire ignition and fuel hazards ·Work areas must have at least two means of escape ·Exit routes must be clear and free of obstructions Fire prevention in homes and dorms: ·Take extra precautions in and near cooking areas where the majority of home fires occur ·Draw a home escape plan and discuss it with everyone in your home ·Practice the plan at least twice a year ·Know two ways out of each room ·Have an outside meeting place ·Teach children how to escape on their own Watch for common ignition and fuel sources such as: ·Overloaded, damaged or flawed electrical circuits ·Sawdust, debris and oily rags, which can spontaneously combust ·Ensure flammable liquid containers are closed and stored in proper place