By Rodd Cayton
Preparation breeds confidence, and confidence is quite useful when something is on fire.
Placitas Resilience & Emergency Preparedness Alliance (PREP) is hoping to increase the confidence of residents with a special event Saturday at Sandoval County Fire Station No. 41. In recognition of National Fire Prevention Month, the group and the county fire department are offering fire extinguisher training in which participants will learn the P.A.S.S. (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) method. PREP President Allen Saville told The Paper. he’s hoping to be able to have live fire for community members to practice on, but that there will definitely be a target showing where to aim the device.
“If you’ve never done it before, you can get a little flustered,” he said. Saville said a resident with a fire extinguisher is a good first line of defense. “They’re the first to know about the fire,” he said. “They can put it out quickly, while it’s still small.” Saville said that even if the resident is unable to put out a fire, responders will likely have to do less damage to a home in their efforts to do so.
Saville, a former Firefighter/EMT, said fire extinguisher training is useful for some young people, too — he trained individuals as young as 8.
The training will be part of an open house at Station 41. PREP will also have an information table set up and the station and some apparatus will be open for a tour. Guests can check out the equipment on board the trucks and discuss the purpose of each. PREP representatives will share tips on go-bags, evacuation procedures, defensible space” and other topics. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fire station is at 463 State Route 165, next door to the Placitas Community Library. Fire Prevention Month originated in the early 20th century; it is an extension of National Fire Prevention Week, which can be traced back to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and is a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of fire safety.
In September, preliminary results of a survey of Placitas residents showed 64% of households possess a functional fire extinguisher and know how to use it. The organization has extended the survey response period through Oct. 31.