Watch what you heat Published Oct. 5, 2006 By Senior Airman Tim Beckham 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- As a young child many people probably had dreams of putting on that fire suit, sliding down that brass pole, driving away in that shiny, red truck and pulling people out of burning buildings. Sure there is something extremely noble about saving lives for a living, but if you were to ask a firefighter, they would probably say educating people about preventing fires is also very beneficial. According to Incirlik firefighters fire prevention is all about knowing the risk and how to deal with situations when things do go wrong. "Following fire safety rules ensures a sound fire-prevention program," said Ronald Swartz, Incirlik Fire Department chief. It has been a busy year for the 138 firefighting team here. "So far in fiscal year 2006 we have responded to 343 fire and emergency service calls," said Chief Swartz. "That is an increase of 59 from fiscal year 2005." Of those 343 responses Chief Swartz said the most common response they get is from the dorms. "Most of our calls come from smoke detectors going off in the dorms," he said. Some of the time the calls turn out to be false alarms; however, that doesn't change the seriousness of every call the fire department here receives. "A firefighter's worst nightmare is responding to a call only to see smoke and fire upon our arrival to one of the dorms or in family housing," said Chief Swartz. To prevent every firefighter's nightmare there are a few small tips people can follow to make sure accidents don't happen or at least don't get out of hand. "You should make sure you follow all smoking policies and properly store flammable liquids," said Chief Swartz. "You should also have training on how to prevent cooking fires in kitchens and outside. Make sure you regularly test your smoke detectors and properly store your space heaters. And always have an escape exit." Ali Veysel Ozyesil, assistant chief of fire prevention added some tips in case the worst happens. "Fire extinguishers should be mounted on a wall in plain sight, near exits, so that fires cannot block your escape. To use the extinguisher remember the acronym PASS, which stands for pull, aim, squeeze and sweep. Before you begin to fight a fire, be sure the Fire department has been called or is being called. Always have a plan for escaping a fire and practice it by holding fire drills at least twice a year. Know at least two ways out of each room and show them on your floor plan. Teach your children that they must escape from a fire and never hide. Choose a spot away from the building where every member of the household will meet after they have escaped from a fire," he said. For more details about fire prevention, call the fire department at 676-6251.Top Ten: Fire safety tips 10. Crawl low under smoke and feel doors for heat. 9. Cool burns with cool (not cold) water. 8. Store hazardous and flammable materials safely away from the house. 7. Avoid plugging excessive plugs into a single outlet and don't run cords under rugs. 6. Never store propane indoors. 5. Keep stoves clear of cumbustibles and clean grease off stoves on a regular basis. 4. Keep lighters and matches away and out of reach from children. 3. Create a fire escape plan. 2. Keep fire extinguishers in your home to fight small fires. and the number one safety tip is ... 1. Install and maintain smoke detectors in every room. Information courtesy of www.naplesfire.com.