Fire Prevention Week observed at NAS Jax

The theme this year was to "Practice Your Escape Plan," encouraging families to have two ways out of every room, agree on a meeting place and practice the plan to be prepared in case of an emergency.

"The key word in 'practice your escape plan' is 'practice,'" Chief Fire Inspector Charles McCoy emphasized. "You have to have a plan and you have to practice it. In the event of a fire, you've got to have a plan to get out alive."

The week's events began with an open house at each fire station that ran throughout the week and a static display at the Navy Exchange courtyard where firefighters passed out information on fire safety. McCoy recommended to one inquiring patron to have at least two exits from every room in case one is blocked by fire, including upstairs rooms. "If I slept upstairs, I would have a fire ladder," McCoy said. The firefighters also answered any questions that Navy Exchange customers had about the fire truck and Naval Fire Safety House that were on display.

The Navy Fire Safety House simulates different storm and fire conditions to help children learn how to escape a burning building. Complete with fake smoke and hot doors, children must crawl to safety.

The Fire Safety House is a trailer that simulates different storm and fire conditions to teach people how to escape a burning building. The storm warnings come across the television like a real weather report would, then the trailer windows start to move, and the surround sound shakes the building. There is a mock 911 phone that allows people to actually dial 911 and report the emergency. If the smoke alarm goes off, the occupants must crawl to safety. The room fills with a non-toxic "smoke" and if the door is hot, they must find another exit.

"The best part was the smoke," said 4-year-old Jhamal Doe, a student at the NAS Jax Child Development Center (CDC). "It was cool and we blew it away." The children were allowed to go through the Fire Safety House and walk around the fire truck to learn about all the components.

"I learned about the hose and about the other hose. There were two hoses!" said Daemeon Antriar, 4.

The firefighters visited the CDC and the Youth Activities Center to show kids what a firefighter looks like when they show up to their house for an emergency. At the Youth Activities Center, Firefighter Shane McFadden dressed in all of his firefighting gear and spoke to the children so that they know not to be afraid if they are in the unfortunate situation when they may need a firefighter's help. Lt. Frank Knott walked McFadden through the process, explaining each step to the children.

NAS Jax Firefighter Luke Jackson teaches a group of children at the NAS Jax Child Development Center about the hose controls on the fire truck. Firefighters went around base last week to spread awareness during Fire Prevention Week.

"We're not there to scare you or hurt you, we're there to get you out first," Knott reassured the kids. They were then allowed to touch the fully suited McFadden to broaden their knowledge of firefighters.

Children at the Youth Center also got to go into the Naval Fire Safety House and learned how to escape a burning building by crawling out of the smoke.

The firefighters also paid a visit to the Naval Hospital Jax Pediatrics Clinic and Children's Ward promoting fire safety and held random, unannounced fire drills around the base during Fire Prevention Week.

"We don't do these drills to fill in the block," Fire Inspector Doug Thomas explained to a group of employees of Hangar 113 after evacuating the building. "It's a people thing. Put yourself in the firefighters' shoes. If they show up and not everyone is here, then they're going into that building looking for you."

The fire department recommends that once everybody gets outside the building, muster in a designated area to make sure that each person is accounted for.

Fire Inspector Doug Thomas speaks to the employees of Building 113 at NAS Jacksonville about the importance of having fire drills like the one they just participated in.

"Everything went beautiful this week," added McCoy at the end of the week. "We had outstanding fire drills and everyone appreciated it. We passed out all sorts of literature and pencils and fire hats at the Naval Hospital, Child Development Center and the Youth Activities Center. It was a great week."

Each year, thousands of lives are lost and property is damaged due to fires. Learning some fire prevention facts and practicing fire safety may save you and your families lives or prevent your home from being destroyed in a fire.

Remember to come up with an escape plan in case of an emergency and most important of all, practice it.

For more information on fire safety, call 542-2783.

Children from the NAS Jax Child Development Center get a chance to hug a fully dressed firefighter. The goal was to teach kids not to be afraid of the firefighters, because they are there to help them in case of an emergency.