Fire Prevention Week ignites

Photos and names of fallen firefighters sit on display during the Bells Across America Memorial Service, part of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. The ceremony honors firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2011 and previous years. Members of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron are honoring U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Derek Kozorosky from Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

The Misawa Air Base Fire Department Color Guard post the colors during the Bells Across America Memorial Service, part of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. The ceremony honored 85 fallen firefighters that are being inducted onto the National Fallen Firefighter Monument. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

U.S.U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Hillary Rodriguez, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, reads the Firefighter Prayer during the Bells Across America Memorial Service, part of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. Fire departments across the Department of Defense are all holding a ceremony to honor all the firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Grainger, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, speaks during the Bells Across America Memorial Service, part of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. This is the second year bells will ring from coast to coast as a nation pauses to honor firefighters who died in the line of duty. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Justin Phelps, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, sounds the last alarm during the Bells Across America Memorial Service, part of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. Departments sound a series of bells when a firefighter dies in the line of duty to alert all members that a comrade had made the ultimate sacrifice. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

Members of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron stand in formation during the Bells Across America Memorial Service, part of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. The moment of remembrance can occur at any time during Memorial Weekend. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Hillary Rodriquez, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team A member, races through cones during the tool carry event part of the firefighter combat challenge relay, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. This is the seventh annual fire muster competition between the Misawa Air Base, Misawa City and Towada City fire departments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Bradley Kramer, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team B member, tries to knock a ball off a cone during the hose pull discharge event part of the firefighter combat challenge relay, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. Four teams from Misawa Air Base, Misawa City and Towada City competed against each other with the fastest time going to Misawa Air Base Team B at one minute, 22 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

Members of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team B pull a fire truck weighing approximately 22,000 pounds during the firefighter combat challenge relay competition held at The Exchange parking lot on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. Firefighters from the 35 CES, along with firefighters from Misawa City and Towada City, participated in the seventh annual fire muster to kick off Fire Prevention Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

Members of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team B race against the Towada City Fire Department during the bucket brigade event, part of the firefighter combat challenge relay competition, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. During the bucket brigade, members of each team had to carry buckets of water to fill their barrel with enough water to knock out the ball and stop the clock. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

Firefighters from Towada City race against members of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team B during the bucket brigade event part of the firefighter combat challenge relay competition, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. Team B was the fastest team to knock out the ball with a time of one minute, nine seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

Firefighters from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team A compete against firefighters from Misawa City during the water ball event part of the seventh annual fire muster at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012. Each team aimed water at a ball to push it past a cone on the opponent’s side to win. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

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Fire Prevention Week ignites

Published Oct. 7, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown
Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 35th Civil Engineer Squadron officially marked the beginning of Fire Prevention Week with a Bells Across America Memorial Service and fire muster competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 7, 2012.

The fire muster brought together teams from on-base and local off-base fire departments to compete in a friendly competition and despite bragging rights and a traveling trophy for the winner, the games meant much more.

"It is important for us to involve the local off-base firefighters so we can build and maintain a good working relationship," said Tech. Sgt. Clive Chipman, 35 CES, NCO in charge fire prevention.

In the event military firefighters can lend a hand to local off-base firefighters or ask them for assistance, establishing a rapport helps, added Chipman.

Fire Prevention Week is scheduled from Oct. 7 to 13, 2012 and is dedicated to providing the community with sound fire prevention, safety knowledge and promotion of a fire-safe lifestyle.

"This gives us an opportunity to connect with the community without being on an emergency," said Chipman. "Our goal is to teach them how to prevent fires, and if a fire occurs, how to make the call for emergency help."

Community members can see firsthand how the fire department handles and maintains control of a fire during a night time fire demonstration, Oct. 10, 2012 at 7 p.m. The demonstration will take place at the fire training area on the base's north side.

Other activities this week will include school visits, static displays of fire equipment, a poster contest, Lunney Youth Center fire extinguisher training and visits to Yoiko Childcare Center and Cheli's School Age Program.

For more information on fire prevention and events throughout the week, contact the Misawa Fire Department at 226-3218 or 226-4055.