HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Col. Ryan Keeney, 49th Wing commander, signed the 2021 Fire Prevention Week proclamation, Oct. 1, 2021, here.
Fire Prevention Week has taken place the week of Oct. 9 since former president Calvin Coolidge proclaimed it a national observance in 1925. Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health observance in the United States and pays homage to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. More than 250 people perished in the Great Chicago Fire and 100,000 homes, 17,400 structures and over 2,000 acres of land were destroyed.
The goal of Fire Prevention Week is to educate U.S. citizens about fire safety and prevent any future devastation from fire-related incidents. Each year focuses on a different component of fire safety. The 2021 Fire Prevention Week theme is, “Learn the sounds of fire safety.”
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms chirp and beep to alert residents they require servicing or replacement. There are also alarms that provide visual cues for residents who are hearing impaired.
Smoke alarms beep in sets of three in response to smoke and fire presence. They have a softer chirp sound every 60 to 90 seconds to signal a low battery in need of changing. All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years, and if an alarm continues to beep after battery replacement it is due for a full device replacement.
Carbon monoxide alarms operate similar to smoke alarms, but beep in sets of four to alert residents of the presence of carbon monoxide. These alarms also need replacement every 10 years, and each device has a unique sound for this purpose.
All residents are encouraged to replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the event they do not know or cannot verify how old a unit is. Residents should also mark the date the device was installed on the outside of the unit for future reference.
If you have questions regarding fire safety visit www.firepreventionweek.org or for child-centered information and activities visit www.sparky.org. You can also call your 49th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department main line at 575-572-2778 for on-base inquiries, use 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency both on and off base.