Fire Prevention Week is taking place October 5-11, 2008. The theme of this year's campaign is Prevent Home Fires!

Here are some important questions to ask yourself to see if your home and family are safe.

Smoke alarms

Test Your Alarm for Life!

Your smoke alarm has the power to save your life. Or does it? If you haven't tested your smoke alarm lately, it may not be working. And that's a risk you can't afford to take. Working smoke alarms give us early warning of a fire, providing extra time to escape safely. But they can't do their job if we haven't done ours - monthly testing to make sure they're working. Test all the smoke alarms in your home. For the life of the alarm and for the lives of your loved ones. When was the last time you tested your smoke alarms? Last month? Last year? Can't remember? If you're not sure your smoke alarms are working, then how can you be sure you'll be protected if a fire breaks out? Don't gamble with your life and assume your smoke alarms are working. Test each one, every month, so you'll know they'll be ready to protect you and your family if there's a fire. Test your alarm for life.

Do you have the time?

Can you afford to spend a few minutes each month to test the smoke alarms in your home? Can you afford not to? Going without the protection of a working smoke alarm is a risk too dangerous to take. In a fire, you'll need every second to get out safely, and the early warning from a smoke alarm can make the difference between surviving a fire and dying in one. Test your smoke alarms today. You can't afford not to.
Escape planning

How much time do you have to get out of a fire?

Not as much as you think. Real fires are hot, smokey and dark. You may have only a very few minutes to safely escape from fire. If you're ever in a fire, don't spend time getting dressed or trying to gather valuables. Just get out and stay out. Then call the fire department from a neighbor's telephone.

If you have a fire tonight, will you get out safely?

You'll have a better chance of getting out safely if you've planned ahead. Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with the whole family. Everyone should know two ways out of each room and know where to meet outside. Make sure everyone understands that getting out is the first priority. And remember, once you're outside, stay out.

"Get Out, Stay Out" - Your fire safe response

What would you do if your home caught on fire? Would you know where to go if smoke or flames blocked your escape? There is no time to think about these questions in a real fire. It's hot, smokey, and so dark you may not be able to see your own hands. Know ahead of time what to do if there's a fire. Develop an escape plan with two ways out of every room. You'll need a second way in case your primary exit is blocked by smoke or flames. And make sure every exit is accessible, including windows. Getting out is your first priority in a fire. And once out, stay out!

Preston fire Chief Allen Vols says don’t forget about fire extinguishers.

"Putting smoke detectors in, usually, in the bedrooms in the sleeping quarters, fire extinguishers, especially in the kitchen," Chief Allen Vols of the Preston Fire Department says.

For more, check http://www.firepreventionweek.org

You can also show your kids the following PSA of what to do if there is a fire:

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