Robins Fire Prevention week educates how to prevent fire Published Oct. 17, 2008 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Robins Fire Emergency Services held several events last week to give children and adults tips on preventing home fires, but for those who missed it Assistant Fire Chief Tom Kennedy summed it up in two words. "Common sense," Mr. Kennedy said. "I couldn't use that enough." The education effort, which involved appearances by Smokey Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog, is a part of Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 5-11, recognized by fire departments across the nation. The theme this year was preventing home fires. Although not many people live on the base now, Mr. Kennedy said the aim is not just to prevent fires at residences on the base but also in the homes of everyone who works at Robins. Cooking mishaps are the biggest cause of home fires, usually the result of leaving the stove unattended, and grease fires are the most common problem, Mr. Kennedy said. Grease tends to overheat when left on the stove too long and can combust. Water should not be used to put out a grease fire. The easiest thing to do is to put a lid on the pan, according to the National Fire Protection Association, or use a dry chemical fire extinguisher. Water will not only fail to put the fire out, but it will cause the grease to splash and spread the fire. Also, no one should try to take a burning pan outside. Some people do not recognize the dangers of cooking and will intentionally leave a stove unattended, Mr. Kennedy said, but in most cases people simply forget as they engage in other activities around the house. Mr. Kennedy said he's even done it himself. "I think we have all tended to do that," he said. The leading cause of fire deaths is space heaters because people are often asleep when space heaters ignite a fire. Mr. Kennedy said all space heaters pose a risk, even newer models. The key is to follow the rule of not placing any combustible material within three feet of a space heater. Space heaters should always be turned off when the user goes to bed or leaves the room. The fire department held events to try to get those and other points across, including giving handouts at Robins Elementary, the Child Development Center, the Base Restaurant and the BX. Mr. Kennedy said it's especially important to teach fire prevention to children. "In fire prevention, it has always been the contention that if we can start small it will stay with them," he said. "Hopefully they take it with them and they can take it home and they can correct the parents. The main reason is they learn quicker and they will retain it and grow up with it." Although Mr. Kennedy said most fires are preventable, there are some causes where the risk wouldn't necessarily be known to the homeowner, such as electrical fires. But there are some warning signs to look out for, he said, such as lights flickering or circuit breakers tripping. If there is any sign of a possible problem, Mr. Kennedy said, an electrician should be called to inspect the wiring.