Fire department hosts fire prevention week

  • Published
  • By Willie Purcell
  • Fire Protection Division
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The base fire department is hosting Fire Prevention Week from Monday to Oct. 13, with the theme "Practice Your Escape Plan." 

It's not enough to have a home fire escape plan. To escape safely, you have to make sure everyone in the home has practiced the plan. 

According to a National Fire Protection Association poll, the majority of Americans have a fire escape plan, but most haven't practiced it. 

With this in mind, the base fire department will be conducting activities and presenting programs throughout the week at Edwards' elementary schools. They will be educating children on the importance of fire safety and an escape plan. 

The fire department will also teach about "EDITH," which stands for "Exit drills in the home." It is the actual learning and practicing of a fire escape plan. Family members develop "EDITH" together to familiarize themselves with the locations of exits in their home and how to use them safely. 

To kick off the event, the fire department will have a parade Monday, 9 a.m., from family housing to the Base Exchange parking lot. Fire fighting vehicles, equipment displays, and a motor vehicle extrication demonstration will also be featured at the parking lot. 

Capping off the week will be the annual Firefighter' s Ball which will be held Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. at Club Muroc. It is a semiformal dress event with dinner, dancing and a "casino play for fun night." Tickets for the event are $25 per person and $23 for Club members. For more information, call 277-0480. 

(Some information courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association)