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Most fires start small and grow. That's why it is important to learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher. Over the past few months a number of documented fires in Central Kitsap have been squelched and major damage to homes, apartments, and businesses minimized by someone who effectively used a fire extinguisher. In June and July alone no fewer than six reported fires were successfully squelched by residents using an extinguisher.
In August, Terry Mitchem, a resident at Silverdale Ridge Apartments received recognition by CKFR for his quick actions in alerting neighbors to a fire and successfully extinguishing the fire with an ABC dry chemical extinguisher, thus minimizing property loss, dislocation of residents and injury to others. Luckily for the landlord and neighbors, Terry knew how to use a fire extinguisher. The fact is, when properly used, fire extinguishers are a great tool for extinguishing a fire while it is still small.
To help CK residents become familiar with how to operate a fire extinguisher, CKFR continues to offer fire extinguisher training with a new simulated live-fire extinguisher training system provided through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. Roughly 750 residents at the following locations have already taken advantage of extinguisher training sessions: Camelot Mobile Estates, Vintage Apartments, Steele Creek Mobile Home Park, Griffin Glen Apartments and visitors to the 25th Annual Kids' Day event at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.
The goal of local trainings is to reduce injuries and property loss due to home fires by teaching the community about ways to be fire safe and how to effectively use a fire extinguisher in the event of a small home fire. A fire extinguisher is your first line of defense against a hostile fire. That is why it is so important to keep a fire extinguisher accessible and ready to go!
- Fire extinguishers are designed to put out SMALL fires!
- Most portable extinguishers are designed to last about 10 to 15 seconds.
- To use an fire extinguisher, remember PASS or Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
- If a fire gets large, do not attempt to extinguish it - get out and stay out!
- When exiting, close doors behind you to slow the spread of the fire.
- Call 911 from a safe place.
Join us on October 2 at Station 51 for our annual Open House in celebration of National Fire Prevention Week and try your hand at successfully using a fire extinguisher. If you miss us on October 2 and wish to schedule a training for your group, call us at 360.447.3550 to arrange a time.
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