Firefighters share insight, skills with community

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lauren Rogers
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  You may have heard the legendary story of Mrs. O'Leary's cow starting the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 after kicking over a lantern in the family barn. Whether or not the O'Leary's cow is to blame, the two-day Chicago blaze that killed more than 250 people and consumed more than 17,000 buildings has since sparked the longest health and safety campaign in the United States -- Fire Prevention Week.

"The Chicago fire changed the face of fire safety," said Tech. Sgt. Philip Narcis, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of Fire Prevention.

This year's Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Preventing Kitchen Fires," hits close to home here at Misawa Air Base.

"Our team responded to four unattended kitchen emergencies during the fiscal year 2011 and six in 2012," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Osada, 35 CES NCO in charge of Fire Prevention.

Misawa isn't the only place with problems in the kitchen. The National Fire Protection Association reports that cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries across the United States.

"Unattended cooking is by far our biggest problem," said Airman 1st Class Tyler Howard, 35 CES firefighter, who has responded to one kitchen fire at Misawa. "These issues are easily preventable if everyone practices good fire safety."

The Misawa AB Fire Department provides the following tips to steer clear of kitchen fires:
  • Maintain a "kid free zone" 3 feet around the cooking area
  • Do not leave a kitchen unattended.
  • Keep a lid and oven mitt nearby when you're cooking in case of a grease fire.
  • Always use pot holders or oven mitts to handle hot pots and pans to avoid burns.
  • Program emergency numbers in your cell phone in case of a fire.
Narcis and Osada agree on one main message -- be careful in the kitchen.

On top of delivering a message of safety, Fire Prevention Week is also a time for firefighters to give the community a close-up look at what services they provide.

The Misawa AB Fire Department began the week with an opening ceremony to honor firefighters who paid the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 in conjunction with a few contests to involve the local community.

They hosted the first commanders and chiefs challenge for "Top Fire Dog," where Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Felty, 35 CES, presented Maj. Reid Novotny, 35th Communications Squadron commander, with a plaque for finishing with the fastest time through skill-based, physical challenges.

Base firefighters also squared up against firefighters from Misawa City, Towada and Hachinohe to compete in a handful of friendly but competitive challenges, where Misawa Airmen won first place in the fire truck pull competition.

Throughout the week, base firefighters also visited the Yoiko Child Development Center, the Chelis School Age Program, Lunney Youth Center, Wakasa Teen Center, base elementary schools, and allowed students to take a tour of their station.

The week concluded with a parade through the base featuring vehicles from both the base and community fire departments, followed by an open house at the base fire station. The final gathering allowed residents to participate in a firefighter course, an earthquake simulator and ladder truck rides.

If you missed out of this year's Fire Prevention Week events, be on the lookout for next year as October 2014 is promised to bring yet another week of fire safety education and lots of fun.