WATCH WHAT YOU HEAT' FIRE PREVENTION THEME

Last year, fire departments responded to 2,054,500, and someone died in a fire every 123 minutes, translating to 4,275 civilian fire deaths.

Cape Girardeau averages one fire death a year. This year, an 83-year-old woman died in a February fire in a one-story frame house that apparently didn't have a smoke detector. The fire started in an area heated by a small stove.

Eight children died in a 1994 home fire in Carbondale, Ill. The children, ages 5 to 7, had been left alone. Investigators say the fire may have been caused by some of the children playing with matches.

These are some sobering facts as the nation observes National Fire Prevention Week this week.

"Fires in the home kill or injure thousands of people every year and cause millions of dollars in property loss," said Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Robert L. Ridgeway. "The majority of fires are caused by carelessness in the kitchen, heating equipment and the misuse of matches and lighters."

The theme this week is "Watch What You Heat: Prevent Home Fires."

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department and those in communities throughout the nation have a full list of activities for the week.

"We'll be visiting schools, conducting fire drills, and we'll be meeting with groups throughout the week discussing fire prevention and fire safety programs," said Ridgeway.

Winners will be announced in the annual fire prevention poster contest. Based on the fire week theme, fifth-graders throughout the city entered.

Cape Girardeau firefighters responded to a total of 2,188 calls in 1994. Eighty-six were to structure fires, 81 to vehicle fires, and 91 to grass fires. Included in the total responses were 1,164 medical-assist calls.

The 1995 theme was selected to increase awareness of the top three risks of fires and to help people learn how to avoid fires associated with them.

Smoke detectors and automatic sprinkler systems greatly reduce the risk of dying in a home fire, but the best defense is to stop fires before they happen, said Ridgeway.

"Simply by being alert, specifically watching what we heat, can prevent a majority of home fires," said Ridgeway.

One of the primary causes of kitchen fires, said Ridgeway, is pan-grease.

"Never throw water on a burning pan of grease," said Ridgeway. "This will only make it worse." The thing is to turn off the heat and place a lid on the pan. Fire must have air."

As with cooking equipment, people should keep an eye on space heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces. Leave a three-foot space between the heaters and anything that can burn, including people and pets. And turn it off before leaving home or going to sleep.

"Now is the time to check the fan belt on your furnace and change the furnace filter," said firefighter Max Jauch. "It's also time to have a certified chimney sweep check the fireplace flue to make sure it's ready for winter use."

Anytime is a good time to check smoke detectors in the home.

"Smoke detectors are so very important," said Jauch. "They can give an early audible warning of a fire and can provide enough time for people to escape safely."

If they have a good battery.

"We suggest people change their batteries during the switch in times twice a year," said Jauch. "We tell people to change their clocks and change their smoke detector batteries."

Jauch said smoke detectors should be tested at least once a week.