FIRE PREVENTION BEGINS WITH EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS

More than 5,000 people die every year in American fires. This grim statistic doesn't set well with the nation's fire departments, whose dedication to saving lives and preserving property is absolute in most communities. What all firefighters know, however, is that the best work they do has nothing to courage or stamina in the face of a blaze, but with educating the public on how fires are best prevented. We applaud fire departments, particularly those in this area, for their attention to this pursuit.

A wave of attention on this is due to the declaration of Oct. 4-10 as National Fire Prevention Week. It is an annual observance (held on the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1876) that focuses on fire safety and, more specifically these days, the need to utilize smoke detectors in residences. Statistics are on the side of the firefighters' argument. Eighty percent of all fire deaths in the United States occur in the home. Most fatal home fires occur between midnight and 4 a.m., even though that's not a time when most fires occur. Ninety percent of child fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Clearly, the presence of working smoke detectors can save lives if a fire breaks out.

Firefighters are spending a lot of time this week at schools, sending home the message of fire safety through young people. It's a good vehicle for spreading the word, not unlike the way adults began learning of the importance of automobile seat belts and child restraint seats. (Kids learn the facts and the lessons filter up.) Fire departments are also urging those whose homes have smoke detectors to check the batteries on a regular basis, as well as encouraging families to devise and practice an escape plan for home evacuation in case of a fire. Caution in smoking tobacco and the storage of flammable liquids is also being emphasized.

Firefighting is like few other professions. Actors live to perform, athletes live to compete. Firefighters, however, would as soon prevent a fire than deal with it once ignited. While we typically regard them as fearless souls who do the work most of us wouldn't desire, firefighters are also teachers ... and their instruction is often a lesson in life. Certainly, fire departments are in place for those times when calamity arises, but we should also appreciate their work in providing information about how calamities might be avoided.