DeKalb Fire Department Stresses Preparedness in Fire Safety Course

Monday morning and afternoon, the DeKalb Fire Department held one-hour courses on fire safety and preparedness.

The course is part of an outreach program that will target every city in the county, to get citizens more proactive about fire prevention, said Micah Lemon, a community education specialist with the department.

Lemon and Patti Cagle, also a community education specialist, put on a one hour presentation to a small group of interested citizens Monday afternoon.

Lemon taught the class where to position fire extinguishers and how to respond if a fire occurs at your home or business.

Cagle taught the class how to use a fire extinguisher and how and where to place smoke detectors around the home.

The two will be giving two more classes on fires safety on Wednesday at Dunwoody City Hall, 41 Perimeter Center East, in the city council chambers. No reservations are necessary. There are two sessions: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Among the lessons taught in Monday’s class were:

Fire extinguishers should be kept in the:

• kitchen, at eye level, near an exit

• master bedroom

• garage

If there is a fire in your home, Lemon advises the following:

1. Sound the Alarm – call 911, pull the alarm, inform people in your home there’s a fire
2. Get people out of harms way
3. Evacuate yourself and others
4. If fire is small enough, try to put it out with a fire extinguisher. If not, leave.

How to use a fire extinguisher:

1. pull the pin
2. aim at the base of the fire, not the flames
3. squeeze the lever slowly
4. Sweep from side to side, making sure to get the flame retardant on areas next to the fire to prevent it from spreading.
5. Always keep your back to an exit so you can escape easily.

Among other tips and facts:

• make an escape plan with your family with two ways out of every room (doors, windows, screens, etc.). And practice that plan.

• never leave a dryer on when you leave your house

• 8 out of 10 fires start from cooking fires

• Store paints and other chemicals outside of the home, or in a fireproof storage cabinet. Lemon said that paint is one of the most flammable things you can keep in your house.

• smoke alarms increase chances of getting out alive by 50 percent, Cagle said.