ARDMORE, OK - The Ardmore Fire Department hopes to prevent scenes blazes before they start.
Shift commander Rhett Hale explained that teaching fire prevention is a topic too big to cover in just a week.
"Because of the number of schools and groups and stuff that become involved it takes us the whole month to go through it," Hale said. "We have fire prevention month in Ardmore."
Throughout October Ardmore firefighters are teaching students and other groups how to prevent fires from ever starting.
This years national theme is kitchen fires.
"Around the stove, around the cooking area, keep anything back that's flammable," Hale said. "Don't leave anything unattended, that's where we have a lot of problems."
Some residents are already taking precautions.
"Make sure you got a water house close by," said Ardmore resident Evan Husbell.
But firefighters said one of their main objectives is to help children understand the importance of fire safety.
"The importance of not playing with matches, anything to start a fire," said Hale. "And we try to teach them what to do if they do get involved in a fire. How to get out of a house, how to call for help."
The National Fire Protection Association wants to remind you to test your smoke alarms, stay in the kitchen while cooking and have an escape plan.