ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM -- Airmen from the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron and other emergency services visited the children of Andersen Elementary School and the Child Development Center on Oct. 8, 2014 to raise awareness about fire prevention.

Annually, fire officials all over the nation do their utmost to raise awareness about fire safety.

"This year's theme is "Working smoke detectors save lives, so test yours every month. Our main focus is the children this year." Said Master Sgt. Carrie Fredrickson, 36th CES assistant chief of fire prevention "We are mainly working with the CDC and the school, we teach the children what could happen in their home, what to prevent and just promote fire safety behavior in their lives."

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, a tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on Oct. 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

Here are some tips and statistics about smoke detectors:

· Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button

· Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm "chirps," warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away

· Smoke alarms are an important part of home fire escape plan, practice the plan during the night and day with everyone

· Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.

· When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected, or dead.

"Nationwide fires in homes are the biggest problem and usually caused by unattended cooking, during the holidays overloading circuits, using serge protectors and multiple plugs can cause sockets to overheat and catch fire." The biggest thing during these times of the year is not overloading your circuits." said Fire Prevention officials. "Instilling these fire safety behaviors in them early will help them throughout their lives and teach their children as they grown up"

For more information on fire prevention, contact the Andersen Fire Department at 366-5264.