FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10-11-11 1201AM

Every year in California, firefighters respond to residential fires that take lives and inflict millions of dollars in damage. From Oct. 9-15, Cal Fire is teaming with the National Fire Prevention Association for Fire Prevention Week to educate Californians on the simple steps they can take to help protect their family from fires.

“Too many lives are lost in home fires in California,” said Cal Fire Director Chief Ken Pimlott. “Everyone should take steps to help prevent home fires and ensure their family is protected.”

On average, seven people die in residential structure fires every day nationwide. So far in 2011, Cal Fire and fire departments across the state have responded to more than 3,500 residential structure fires that have resulted in 191 injuries, 32 deaths and $184 million in property loss.

Cal Fire reminds all Californians of the importance of working smoke alarms, the advantages of practicing family fire-escape drills twice a year, and the benefits of installing home fire sprinklers.

Additional fire prevention tips include:

SMOKE ALARMS:

• Test smoke alarms once a month.

• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms twice a year.

• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

EXIT DRILLS:

• Develop a fire escape plan.

• Practice family fire drills at least twice a year.

HOME FIRE SPRINKLERS:

• Provide your family extra time to safely escape.

• Help contain a fire to its room of origin.

• Often extinguish the fire before the fire department arrives.

For more fire safety tips, visit www.fire.ca.gov.

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