NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Every year in California firefighters respond to residential structure fires that take lives and inflict millions of dollars in damage.

From Sunday, Oct. 9, through Saturday, Oct. 15, Cal Fire is teaming with the National Fire Prevention Association for Fire Prevention Week to educate Californians on the simple steps they can take to help protect their family from fires.

“Too many lives are lost in home fires in California,” said Cal Fire Director Chief Ken Pimlott. “Everyone should take steps to help prevent home fires and ensure their family is protected.”

On average, seven people die in residential structure fires every day nationwide, Cal Fire reported.

So far in 2011, Cal Fire and fire departments across the state have responded to over 3,500 residential structure fires, which have resulted in 191 injuries, 32 deaths and $184 million in property loss.

Cal Fire is taking this opportunity during Fire Prevention Week to remind all Californians of the importance of having working smoke alarms, the advantages of practicing family fire escape drills twice a year, and the benefits of installing home fire sprinklers.

Below are some important fire prevention tips:

SMOKE ALARMS:

• Test smoke alarms once a month.

• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms twice a year.

• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

EXIT DRILLS:

• Develop a fire escape plan.

• Practice family fire drills at least twice a year.

HOME FIRE SPRINKLERS:

• Provides your family extra time to safely escape.

• Helps to contain a fire to the room it started in.

• Will often extinguish the fire before the fire department arrives.

For more fire safety tips, visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov.

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