Fire Prevention Week

Sparky is the National Fire Protection Association mascot and has promoted fire safety to children for more than 60 years. This year's Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 7 through 13, and Incirlik residents can see Sparky and learn about fire safety Oct. 11, in the Falcon Housing area. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Senior Airman Alexandre Montes/Released)

Fire Prevention Week

Incirlik Unit School first graders perform safe fire evacuation with the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and Sparky, the official mascot of the National Fire Protection Association, at Sparky’s House Oct. 6, 2010 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Approximately 250 IUS children visited Sparky’s House to learn fire prevention during Fire Prevention Week 2010. During the children’s visit, they learned fire safety and prevention through demonstrations and practicing “Stop, Drop and Roll” techniques, smoke detection and safe evacuation. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Senior Airman Alexandre Montes/Released)

Fire Prevention Week

Firefighters with the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department give Incirlik Unit School first graders a tour of a fire truck at Sparky’s House Oct. 6, 2010 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Approximately 250 IUS children visited Sparky’s House to learn fire prevention during Fire Prevention Week 2010. During the children’s visit, they learned fire safety and prevention through demonstrations and practicing “Stop, Drop and Roll” techniques, smoke detection and safe evacuation. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Senior Airman Alexandre Montes/Released)

IUS Children learn from Sparky

Published Oct. 8, 2010
By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Approximately 250 Incirlik Unit School children visited "Sparky's House" to learn fire prevention here Oct. 3 through 7.

Sparky the Fire Dog, the official mascot of the National Fire Protection Association, teamed up with personnel from the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department to teach the children fire hazards and precautionary safety measures during Fire Prevention Week 2010.

"I was excited and proud to teach fire prevention to the children," said Muammer Ozpolat, 39th CES fire inspector. "When you teach them while they are young, they keep what they learn their whole life."

While at Sparky's house, Sparky and the children performed the "Stop, Drop and Roll" technique, practiced fire escape plans from a smoke filled room, discussed how to report a fire, toured a fire truck and talked about the importance of smoke detectors.

The demonstrations and hands-on learning experience had an effect on some of the children that had them chanting "Stop! Drop! and Roll! Stop! Drop! and Roll!" as they were getting back on the bus to return to the school.

The fire department also provided fire prevention education across the base. Sparky and the 39th CES fire chief spent a morning reading to pre-school students at the base library and are planning to continue the fire prevention awareness at the base exchange Oct. 8.

Ali Ozyesil, 39th CES assistant chief of fire prevention, said this year's Fire Prevention Week theme is intended to educate people about the importance of smoke detectors.

Sponsored by the NFPA, the 2010 campaign is Oct. 3 through 9.

The first Fire Prevention Week was Oct. 4 through 10 and was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library information Center, Fire Prevention Week is longest running public health and safety observance on record.