L to R: Elizabeth Popovich, ARC/GNY Director, Orange/Sullivan Area Office; Robert Gould, Orange County Advisory Board Chair; Gary Vanderschaaf, DAT Captain; Edward Diana, Orange County Executive; Roger Burch, Orange County Assistant Director, Response; Damaris Rundle, Sullivan County Assistant Director, Response; and John Cascone, Community Development Associate, in the offices of Mr. Diana, who is holding the Home Fire Safety Day proclamation.

Chris Cunningham, Chairman, Sullivan County Legislature, and Edward Diana, Orange County Executive, both issued proclamations declaring October 8th Home Fire Safety Day. And on October 15, Village of Monticello Mayor James Barnicle will proclaim October 20th Home Fire Safety Day in Monticello, New York in Sullivan County.

From January 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007, the American Red Cross in Greater New York has responded to 68 fires in Orange and Sullivan counties.

Every year in the U.S., fire kills more people than all natural disasters combined. Statistics show that in general, a home fire is reported every 79 seconds and someone dies from a home fire every 135 minutes. On average, fire kills more than 3,900 people (850 children) and injures more than 20,000. Also alarming is that more than 75 percent of residences don't have a fire escape plan.

Children ages five and under and older adults, especially those 85 and older, are at significantly higher risk of dying in a home fire than the general population. Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Heating fires—caused by functioning or malfunctioning central heating units, fixed or portable local heating units, fire places, chimneys and water heaters—are the second leading cause.

Approximately 70 percent of home fire deaths result from fires in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. Thus, installing a smoke alarm on every floor of your home is the first step to fire prevention.

Follow these fire prevention and safety tips to reduce your risk of home fires and escape safely if a fire breaks out:

• Take care of your smoke alarm: Install smoke alarms outside each sleeping area and on each level of your home. Check each smoke alarm once a month and replace dead batteries as soon as possible. Dust your smoke alarms once a month.
  
  
• Have a fire extinguisher: Know how to use the fire extinguisher you keep in your home. Recharge the extinguisher according to manufacturer"s instructions.
  
  
• Have an escape route: Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home, and consider escape ladders for bedrooms on the second floor. Pick a location a safe distance from your home to meet after a fire. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
  
  
• Stay in the room with the door closed if smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at a window. If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department and tell them where you are.
  
  
• Escape safely: Once you have exited, stay out of your home. Call the fire department from your neighbor’s home. If you must exit through smoke, crawl low beneath the smoke. Use your second way out if fire or smoke is blocking your original escape route. Feel the doorknob of a closed door before opening it. If it is hot, don’t open that door. Remember to stop, drop and roll if your clothing catches on fire.