Mission Statement:  In an ever changing world, the role of the Fire Service is constantly evolving and adapting to the threats placed upon society.  Our goal will be to protect our community to the best of our ability through strict code enforcement, state of the art fire fighting and rescue equipment, and well-trained employees.  Our mission is a just cause.  May God protect us in this endeavor.

Remember to call 911 in the event of an Emergency

Did you know that between the years 1992 and 2001 an average of 4,266 people per year lost their life to fire? Fire in the United States is a major problem, and much of it has to do with carelessness on the part of people. All across the United States, there is a push going on to promote fire prevention. We here at the Picayune Fire Department want to do our part to help with keeping our citizens safe by placing monthly fire prevention articles such as this in the Picayune Item. Our hope is that you will learn valuable and life saving information. 

Let me share some statistics with you from the United States Fire Administration. 84% of fire related fatalities occur in a residential setting. Of those deaths, over 80% occur in a single family dwelling. Our belief is that, in most cases, there was no working smoke detector in the residence. If you were to check in Pearl River County alone, you would be amazed at the number of homes that do not have a smoke detector installed in their residence. Even more amazing would be the number of homes who have detectors that would not work in a fire situation. These detectors either have batteries which are inoperable or simply will not work because they are old and need to be replaced. 

What most people do not realize is how a fire progresses once it starts. The average citizen thinks that they will smell smoke as soon as the fire starts, giving them plenty of escape time. This is far from the truth. As fire starts, the heat and smoke accumulate at the ceiling then begins to build up, moving toward the floor. By the time it gets down to bed level, you may already have a temperature in excess of 300 degrees or more at ceiling height and a fire which has grown big enough to block your exit. Or, the smoke may be so bad that you are overcome by it. Most people think that death results from fire when, in reality, most people die from heat and smoke inhaled into their lungs. Our major concern is with our elderly citizens who do not have smoke detectors in their homes. 

Our challenge to you is to purchase a detector if you do not already have one and have it installed before going to bed tonight. Check on elderly neighbors and family members to make sure they have operable detectors in their homes and help with getting one installed for them if they do not. Your detector batteries should be changed twice a year. Pick two dates during the year that might help to remind you that it’s time to change. 

When it comes to fires in the home, the attitude of most people is that it will never happen to them. In 2001, there were 396,000 residential fires which resulted in 3,140 deaths. In the south, we have the highest death rate per capita at 16.6 civilian deaths per 1 million people. This shows us that it can happen to anyone at any time. So, lets start thinking smart and move forward taking the steps necessary to prevent a fire before it occurs, saving lives and property. If you have any questions regarding any issue dealing with fire prevention or safety, please feel free to contact any member of the Picayune Fire Department at 798-7862, 798-4811 or 799-0614.