Saturday, October 11, 2008, 11:00am-2:00pm

A pot holder too close to a lit burner or a space heater left on overnight could be all it takes to start a home fire. In fact, cooking and heating are among the leading causes of home fires in the United States, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). 

That’s why Murphy Fire-Rescue is teaming up with NFPA from October 5-11 to urge Murphy residents to “Prevent Home Fires” during Fire Prevention Week. This year’s campaign focuses on preventing all the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating and electrical equipment, and smoking materials.

According the latest research from NFPA, more than 2,500 people died in home fires in the United States in 2006, and 12,500 were injured. Fire departments responded to 396,000 home fires, which accounted for 80% of civilian deaths and 76% of injuries that year.

“While the number of home fires is daunting, the good news is that many are easily preventable when residents take simple steps to increase their safety from fire,” said Christan Smith, Murphy’s Fire Prevention Specialist. “Whether it’s smoking outside the home, keeping space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, or staying in the kitchen when you are using the stovetop, there are easy things you can do to keep your home and family safe from fire.”

Do you know how to keep your home safe from fire hazards? Come by the fire station October 11 from 11am-2pm to meet the firemen, participate in interactive station tours, enjoy free hot dogs, learn about fire and life safety, and take with you information that can help you prevent fires in your home.  Contact Christan Smith, Fire Prevention Specialist, at 972-468-4335 or csmith@murphytx.org for more information.