'Fire Prevention Week' on Daniel Island

“In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy.”

That was the message shared by firefighters all across the country last week during a national “Fire Prevention Week” initiative. Through the campaign, citizens in Charleston and communities across the U.S. were encouraged by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to make a plan for fire prevention by taking the following actions:

• Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.

• Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.

• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.

• Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.

• Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.

• Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.

Firefighters with the City of Charleston Fire Department’s Station 18 on Daniel Island visited with students at Providence Baptist Church and Philip Simmons Elementary School last week to provide safety talks and truck tours, while spreading the word about the campaign.

Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Charleston, owned by Daniel Island residents Larry and Diane Rice, also took part by educating the community about the importance of fire prevention. The company is a leading national provider of water, fire, and mold damage cleanup and restoration services. Tom Rice, emergency service manager for Paul Davis Restoration, reports that he witnesses fire damage of varying degrees “on almost a weekly basis in the Charleston area.”

“It is important to prepare properly because it first and foremost is critical to the safety and well-being of family members, including your pets,” said Rice, a Daniel Island resident. “Proper fire prevention measures will help to reduce the possibility of a fire and catastrophic loss of lives and personal property, such as family collectibles, timeless photographs and sentimental items throughout the home. The best way to minimize the potential devastating effects of a house fire, is through prevention.”

For more information on Fire Prevention Week, and associated resources, visit http://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Campaigns/Fire-Prevention-Week.