Fire Prevention Week

 Big Bear, Ca, October 4, 2011, 1:00pm – This week is Fire Prevention Week, and the San Bernardino County Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to educate county residents on how to prevent fires.  This year’s campaign focuses on preventing the leading cause of home fires, which include cooking, heating and electrical equipment, as well as candles and smoking materials.  “In 2009, 2,565 people died in home fires. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed,” stated Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Horton.  Fire officials also advise residents to install smoke alarms in the home, test smoke alarms monthly and replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.  For more information on fire safety visit www.sbcfire.org