Fire smart, fire safe Published Oct. 16, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker celebrated National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4-10. Applying this year's theme, "Stay Fire Smart, Don't Get Burned," installation fire department official hosted several events throughout the week. Among the most popular activities were the visits to Sparky's house by Tinker Elementary students. "We wanted Tinker Take Off readers to understand the importance of fire safety at home and in the work place," said Mike Pierce, Tinker fire inspector. "We believe the more we educate, the more 'fire safe' the base will be." Nearly 500 pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students visited the house of beloved Tinker Fire Department mascot Sparky. The house, a condemned 1,100-square-foot ranch at 5357 Chidlaw Ave. in base housing was the site of safety exercises and videos. At the conclusion of the hands-on presentation, fire department officials smoked the house using a smoke machine and practiced exiting procedures with the children. "It was awesome, I love Sparky's house," said Kaitlyn Nelson, 7, a base-housing resident, who toured the house Oct. 7 with her second-grade class. Kaitlyn said she also learned about designating a family meeting area outside of the house and should there be a fire, she'd like to warn the family in the neighboring duplex. "This is a really neat program they have here," said Sherry Hatcher, second-grade teacher at Tinker Elementary. "We've been talking about fire safety all week long and I had them check their family's smoke detectors, talk to their parents about changing its battery and making an evacuation plan." Earnest Baxter, Tinker fire inspector, said the key to making the children grasp the knowledge is positive reinforcement. "If they see it, hear it and demonstrate it, there's a 90-percent chance they'll retain it," he said. Fire officials also conducted evacuation drills in several buildings, distributed information pamphlets at the base exchange, visited the child development centers, hosted a cookout and parade and performed a retreat ceremony. National Fire Prevention Week commemorates the anniversary of The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which blazed from Oct. 8 through 10. Hundreds were killed. Thousands were left homeless and nearly four miles of the Windy City were devastated. Since 1922, the week-long event is observed from Sunday through Saturday on a week that includes Oct. 9, the most devastating day of the fire.