(Spirit Lake)– This week marks the annual observance of Fire Prevention Week. Spirit Lake Fire Chief Pat Daly says this year’s theme is centered around smoke detectors…
“They always come up with a theme. This year is smoke detectors: make them work. We get kids from preschool to 4th grade through the station. I believe they’re there on Tuesday and Wednesday this year and that’s things we talk about every year is smoke detectors and meeting places and stuff like that.”
Daly says they have evidence that indicates the messages associated with Fire Prevention Week are getting through, especially with children…
“We know that Fire Prevention Week is working because we’ve been to fires and all the kids got their parents and everybody at their meeting spot, all that stuff, so we know the kids are taking it home.”
And when it comes to smoke detectors, Daly says there are several things to keep in mind…
“If they’re 10 years old or older they should be replaced. We always tell them to replace the batteries when we change the clock. Make sure they’re tested every month and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a C-O detector around somewhere.”
Daly adds extreme caution needs to be taken with outdoor fires, given the extremely dry conditions. He encourages everyone to postpone any open burning until conditions improve…
“That would be the best thing to do. If you can wait that long that would be great, it saves a lot of problems around the area if you can do that.”
Burn bans are in effect for several northwest Iowa counties including Cherokee, Emmet, Lyon, Osceola, Plymouth, and Sioux.
