State Fire Marshal urges youth fire safety education

OLYMPIA — The State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging parents and educators to review fire safety with children as the new school year begins.

About 5% of fire-related deaths in Washington last year involved children younger than 18, according to the agency.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends teaching children not to play with matches, lighters, candles or cooking equipment and establishing a 3-foot kid-free zone around potential hazards, including cooking areas, fireplaces and space heaters.

Children should also learn what a smoke alarm sounds like and know to leave a building quickly when an alarm activates. The agency recommends teaching children when to call 911, what information to provide during an emergency and why they should never hide during a fire.

Families should practice a home fire escape plan twice a year with at least two exit routes. Children should know to crawl low to the nearest exit if they encounter smoke and go to a designated outdoor meeting place, where they should remain during a fire.

The agency also recommends reviewing school fire drill procedures with children and emphasizing the importance of following teachers’ instructions.

More information is available from the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-596-3904.