The past year in Cumberland has been a rough one — from a fire standpoint. Several major fires have occurred, including one that claimed the life of three people on Estelle Street and another that killed two children on Harrison Street.
Because of those fires, and several others that caused major property damage in other neighborhoods in the city, this year’s Fire Prevention Week takes on particular significance. The importance of fire safety can not be overstated.
Fire Prevention Week begins today and runs through Saturday. The state fire marshal and fire departments across Maryland are holding activities and events to drive home the importance of fire prevention.
During 2011, the National Fire Protection Association estimates that U.S. fire departments responded to 484,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 2,640 civilian deaths, 15,635 civilian injuries, and an estimated $9.7 billion in direct property damage.
Maryland experienced 67 civilian deaths resulting from 56 fatal fires. Twenty-seven of those fatal fires occurred between the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and caused 35 deaths. Cooking-related fires remain the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries both in Maryland and nationwide.
A safety message urging planning and preparation for fire emergencies includes a few tips:
• Develop a fire escape plan that identifies two ways out of each room and designate a family meeting place outside.
• Practice your plan at least twice a year.
• If the smoke alarm sounds, go to your closest exit, and if there is smoke on your way out, turn and use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit.
These common sense tips can help keep you and your family safe — and alive.
Editorials
Related Photos
-
Rough year
Rough year
Big fires take toll on people’s lives and property
- Editorials
-
-
Better ‘Click It’
If you notice more police on the highway this week, it’s for a couple of reasons.
-
They do bite
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. For anyone thinking that is not such a big deal, consider that 4.7 million Americans annually are bitten by dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
-
Stop buying licenses; let them find the money somewhere else
A few months ago, I received two cards from the National Rifle Association. These were dealing with a legislative alert.
They asked that I should contact Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Kevin Kelly concerning the anti-gun legislation. -
Strength of gun laws is not reflected in grisly statistics
According to the FBI’s uniform crime reports, California had the highest number of gun murders in 2011 with 1,220, which makes up 68 percent of all murders in the state that year and equates to 3.25 murders per 100,000 people.
-
An old story
What for years has been an on-again, off-again battle over funding between the Allegany County Commissioners and the Allegany County Board of Education seems to be growing even uglier.
-
‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War.” My generation remembers the Battle for LZ X-Ray at Ia Drang, The Tet Offensive, and Khe Sahn of the Vietnam War.
-
Organization needed to help utilize the Potomac River
I am a committee remember on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway which stretches from Palmetto to Venice, Fla.
-
Reducing meat consumption can help ease climate change
A review of 12,000 papers on climate change, in the May 15 issue of “Environmental Research Letters,” found that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities.
-
Editorial Cartoon - 05/18/2013
-
Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
