What goes on during fire prevention week?

Every year, almost every city in the nation will host a fire prevention week. During this time, fire prevention experts talk with the public about possible fire dangers.

Jeremy Robshaw, the

Public Education Officer for St. John's County Fire Rescue, says fire prevention week is a time when firefighters and the community come together.

"Our fire prevention week this year is 10/09/05 through 10/15/05. Departments across the nation put together different programs that relate specifically to fire prevention and deliver them to different groups throughout the community. Our main focus is to teach people how to prevent fires from ever starting. In addition to that we also teach them how to deal with the fire situation safely in the event that one does occur. We spend a lot of time in the schools, in the daycare centers, and different businesses throughout the community. We have programs relating specifically to elder citizens and the different needs that they may face, which other areas of the community may not deal with," Robshaw says.

Some topics that are covered during fire prevention week are maintenance of furnaces, electric heaters, and wood stoves. According to the National AG Safety Database, residents who have furnace heaters need to check the filter once a month. They need to change it when necessary, or at least twice a year. They should also have the furnace inspected once a year and tested for leaks. The furnace should be vented in someway leading to the outdoors. Inspect the chimney for debris that could plug it.

Before buying a kerosene heater, make sure the local building and fire codes permit its use in residential units. Also, check your insurance policy to see if such use will affect the policy. Buy an approved heater that has been tested by the Underwriter's Laboratories. Read the owner's manual before operating the heater and maintain the heater according to the manual. Never put heaters where people walk and keep the heater 3 feet from combustible material such as draperies or furniture. Teach children to avoid the heater. The surface of some heaters can exceed 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Never leave a heater on when no one is at home or when you are asleep.

For kerosene heaters, only use K1 kerosene. It has a .04 percent sulphur content by weight. Don't use any other type of fuel. K2 kerosene is not recommended. It has a higher sulphur content, and improper use can pose a fire or explosion hazard. Only fill the heater when it is cool.

Robshaw says fire prevention week will cover all these areas. Their main focus is children and families. He says if you can get children to start thinking about fire prevention, it can have a huge affect on the family structure. This also ensures their safety when they become responsible adults.