Shaw hosts Fire Prevention Week events

The 20th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department hosted a series of events in recognition of Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9-12.

This year’s events focused on the National Fire Protection Association Fire Prevention Week theme: “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.”

As a way to share knowledge, base firefighters visited local schools to teach students about the importance of fire safety.

“Fire safety starts today,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Crusius, 20th CES fire department crew chief. “It doesn’t matter at what age you start practicing fire safety. Everybody plays a part when a fire starts in a home. A parent could be the one that freezes up and the child could be the one that ends up acting on what they learned.”

During the week, guests receive the opportunity to participate in an escape room that simulated responding to a house fire.

Inside the escape room, Team Shaw members “looked” for places a fire could start, “listened” for the sound of the smoke alarm, and “learned” two ways to escape each room.

“Every year, the majority of fire deaths in North America happen at home,” said Cornelius Berry, 20th CES fire prevention inspector. “Today’s home fires burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds.”

Berry went on to say firefighters provided event participants with knowledge on the importance of responding quickly to a fire and looking for safe escape routes in every room they enter.

Team Shaw and local community members ended the week knowing the significance of fire safety and how important it is to look, listen and learn.

For more information on fire safety and other resources, visit www.nfpa.org.

Editors note: More imagery as week continues