By: Jonathan Evans
On March 25, 2025, WCSHC Arlexis Yarbrough and Piney Grove United Methodist Church hosted a Fire Wise workshop. Deputy Chief Sanders instructed the workshop, and he discussed the importance of an escape plan, fire precautions, and preventatives.
In the case of a fire, there should be an escape route for everyone occupying the home. The escape plan should include scenarios where everyone crawls instead of walking or running out of the house, what someone should do if the route is blocked by a fire, and a safe meeting outside the home. It is good to practice the escape plan a few times a year to make sure everyone has a clear understanding of it.
Fire precautions and preventatives can be the difference between life and death. It is good to secure a properly functioning smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector—if you have gas in your house. Ensure you turn everything off before leaving your home, such as the oven, crockpot, dryer, wall heaters, and space heaters. Pay attention to the items around a wall socket because certain items and fabrics can help a fire spread. Also, be cautious about the type of extension cord and surge protector you have plugged into the wall. Those can sometimes get extremely hot or short and cause a spark, creating a fire.
Louisville Fire Department provides free smoke detectors to its residents. Call (662) 773-9420 to receive a smoke detector and have it installed. Residents are encouraged to use this free service to enhance their home safety. Deputy Chief Detrick Sanders presented life-saving practices to the attendees. The Winston County Self Help Cooperative thanks Sanders and the Louisville Fire Department for partnering with the WSCHS for this event.
