Horseheads Fire Department to hold open house

Two separate fires each claimed a life Monday night.

The campaign theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm”. “We say it increases your survivorbility about 50 percent if you have a working smoke detector”, Chief Fire Investigator Bill Moody said.

Two firefighters along with the life and safety educator for the department showed students what they are supposed to do if they are at home during a fire.

The fire department will be going to educate the Alberton Elementary School on Thursday. “Fire Prevention Week provides us all with a reminder to install, maintain and regularly test residential smoke alarms”.

There are higher fire death rates in states with larger percentages of populations in poverty, lower levels of formal education and higher proportions that live in rural areas.

Firefighters not only here in Springfield but in surrounding counties are all focusing on the importance of smoke detectors. If the smoke alarms in the home are working, the pizza is free.

Chatham Township Fire Department encourages all families to visit their respective Fire Departments during Fire Prevention week.

According the National Fire Protection Association, about half the deaths from fires nationwide occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep.