MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Each year during the month of October, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Fire and Emergency Services, in coordination with the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), work to raise fire safety awareness and educate families, students and communities across the United States. This year’s fire prevention week teaches fire safety, precautions, and awareness while highlighting this year’s theme, "Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen" running from Oct. 4-10.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, this year Camp Lejeune’s Fire and Emergency Services found creative ways to approach promoting fire prevention education at Department of Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and Child Development Centers on MCB Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. Typically, the firefighters will come to each school and teach prevention to students through different songs, dances and puppet shows. This year, firefighters recorded a puppet show, book readings and a firetruck tour to continue to educate the Marine Corps Installations East community members.
A fire can happen anywhere and at any time. Camp Lejeune’s Fire and Emergency Services reminds Marines and their families to be cautious in the kitchen to prevent a fire mishap. The outbreak of a fire, when not handled carefully, can lead to property damage, bodily injuries and loss of life.
“During fire prevention month, we have fire drills in the barracks and assembly areas,” said Glenn Zurek, deputy fire chief, Fire and Emergency Services, MCB Camp Lejeune. “We do this so that people can practice getting out of that structure, having a meeting place and getting accountability of everyone that was in that structure.”
According to Zurek, it is also important to ensure the correct fire safety and evacuation plans have been put in place, in the unfortunate event of a fire. These include clearly marked escaped routes, exits and emergency doors for a seamless evacuation.
This year’s fire prevention theme stresses the importance of fire safety in the kitchen.
“According to the NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States,” said Nicholas Stoll, assistant chief of fire prevention, Fire and Emergency Services, MCB Camp Lejeune. “This is one thing we see on base quite often and that is what we are trying to reach out and prevent that this month. Never leave your home cooking unattended,” Stoll said. “Make sure you have a fire and kid-free zone around where you are cooking, you should also have a working home fire extinguisher.”
Fire safety awareness includes assessing the possible risks that can cause a fire hazard and taking preventive measures to ensure minimal damage and a safe exit to all of the individuals exposed to fire. Making sure that the correct fire protection strategies are in place is crucial to help minimize the risk of fire.
For more information on fire safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association website at www.nfpa.org.