New hires, filling the boots and fire prevention

In preparation for the start of Advance Life Support ambulance transport service later this year, the Falcon Fire Protection District hired six full-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians effective Sept. 15. EMS Division Chief Jonathan Webb said that five of the districtís firefighter/EMTs are interning with American Medical Response to gain experience.The fire district also posted a job announcement in mid-September seeking full-time paramedic/firefighters who will be assigned to the new ambulances. The application period closed Sept. 25, and the district hopes to hire six paramedic/firefighters by Oct. 20.Boots were filled for MDAFFPD firefighters wish to thank everyone who contributed to the annual Fill the Boot fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Donations collected by Falconís firefighters totaled $8,152.82, which surpassed their 2019 goal and is significantly more than the 2018 total. All donations go toward helping people who are living with muscular dystrophy.Fire Prevention: ìNot Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!îFire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 ñ 12. This yearís theme focuses on small but important actions everyone can take to stay safe from fire. One of the most important things families can do is create and practice a home escape plan.Home escape planning and practice ensure that everyone knows what to do in a fire and that they are prepared to quickly and safely escape. Todayís houses burn faster than ever. From the time a smoke alarm sounds, occupants may have as little as two minutes to get out of the home. Making a plan and practicing it with all members of the household can help everyone escape the fire. The National Fire Protection Association offers these steps for home escape planning:

1. Map it out: Draw the home layout and mark two exits from every room (typically a door and a window). Add a path from each exit to the outside.
2. Designate a meeting place: Pick a place outside in the front of the building where everyone will meet after exiting the home.
3. Smoke alarms: Mark the location of all smoke alarms in the home. There should be at least one on every level, in each bedroom and near all sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly, replace batteries every year and replace any alarms older than 10 years.
4. 911: Make sure everyone knows to call 911 from a mobile phone or a neighborís phone once they are safely outside. 911 is the number to call for emergencies in El Paso County ñ- please do not call the fire department directly.

For more information and tools such as fire escape checklists, go to: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Preparedness/Fire-Prevention-Week/Make-and-escape-planAbout Fire Prevention WeekThe NFPA has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in the United States.Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871. That fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless and destroyed more than 17,400 structures.Stay connected with the Falcon Fire Protection DistrictWebsite: http://www.falconfirepd.orgFacebook: Falcon Fire DepartmentTwitter: @FalconFireDeptNextDoor.com