Robins to celebrate Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9-12 Published Oct. 5, 2007 By Holly Birchfield 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- Robins is set to help people learn how to get out when fire breaks out. The base will observe the National Fire Prevention Association's Fire Prevention Week Tuesday through Oct.12 with a host of local activities and educational events centered on the theme, "Practice Your Escape Routes." Tom Kennedy, assistant fire chief at the Base Fire Department at Robins since 1999, said the fire department will use fun to teach a serious topic. "Our biggest event will be (at) the Robins Elementary School," he said. "Starting Oct. 9 at 8:45 a.m. (in the school's auditorium), we will actually present the poster contest winners. There will be ribbons, trophies and gift certificates presented." The posters, which are produced by elementary school students, will be judged by a panel of base firefighters and the winning entries will be used to promote fire prevention on base, Mr. Kennedy said. Special guests Sparky the Fire Prevention Dog and possibly Smokey the Fire Prevention Bear will be present for announcement and awarding of the winners. The week's events will also include the traditionally used fire safety trailer. "The fire safety trailer is a large trailer we purchased (in the mid-1990s)," Mr. Kennedy said. "It's a great thing because it teaches the kids escape routes. It has its own smoke generator inside it. It has a kitchen, bedrooms, smoke detectors, and a living room. It has all kinds of things. It's to make sure wherever they are, they can escape and get out of the trailer, which is the same process they would use to get out of their homes." The assistant fire chief said he wants kids to take the skills they learn home to their parents to help keep their families safe from fire dangers. The fire prevention activities aren't just for kids though. The Base Fire Department will provide a display of fire prevention materials at the Robins Base Exchange Tuesday through Oct.12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fire prevention professionals will be on hand to answer people's questions and provide educational materials and giveaways at the event. Mr. Kennedy said he attributes Robins' lack of fires and fire-related injuries to its aggressive fire prevention program. "Fire Prevention Week is just a very important week," he said. "It requires a lot of safety training. We want to make sure that we don't have as many deaths as we've had in past years. The whole point of this is to reduce that." Byron Chamberlain, an engineering technician at the Base Fire Department, said fire prevention is an ongoing process. "Fire Prevention Week is important because it brings awareness to the fact that we have to be constantly vigilant to help prevent fires and maintain a fire-safe atmosphere for the workplace," he said.