Henrico Fire encourages preparedness for fire prevention week

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- This week is the National Fire Protection Association's "Fire Prevention Week" across the country, which means local firefighters want people to review fire safety at home, so they're saved from heartbreak and damage.

Henrico Fire Battalion Chief Doug Reynolds said it all starts with having a working smoke detector, and your local Greater Richmond firefighter may be able to install one for free if you cannot afford it.

That's just one of many steps families can take to help themselves, so they do not end up among the dozens that face fire destruction. Henrico firefighters will respond to about 300 structure fires a year.

"Any of those could have potentially left everybody homeless and could have killed somebody," Reynolds said.

That's why he also wants people to have a fire extinguisher handy in case some of the most common fires break out -- which includes cooking on the stove.

"If you have a little fire in the frying pan — first of all, try to cut back the electricity or the gas off — try to get a lid on it and that'll help smooth it out. If you're cooking there, just a quick pan on top of another pan would help smother that one out," Reynolds suggested.

Other common fire sources are forgetting to put out a candle flame and not giving a 12-inch safety circle around it as well as improperly caring for lithium ion batteries.

"You pull the pin, you aim it, you squeeze the handle and you spray where the fire is actually at," Reynolds said in regards to using a fire extinguisher. "Keep your back to the exit, so you can quickly get out."

He also said to take the battery to a recycling center if it has to be disposed of, as opposed to throwing it away in the traditional trash.

If disaster strikes, gather up the family beforehand and draw out a home escape plan. Speaking of the home, do not chain link extension cords together and never plug a space heater into an extension cord.

"You always want to try to teach your family two ways out of every room of the house. Always remember if there's smoke or if there's fire in the house, the windows are another way to get out of your house," Reynolds said.

For those who do have a space heater, make sure it's 36 inches away from anything that could catch fire.