Phoenix Fire Department: Halloween is a good time to reiterate safety

PHOENIX — Keeping safe is always a priority the Phoenix Fire Department stresses, but Halloween in particular was a time that safety takes a high priority.

Phoenix Fire Department captain Jake Van Hook told KTAR News 92.3 FM that supervision of young trick-or-treaters and having a plan for older trick-or-treaters can make a world of difference.

“We want to encourage parents to go out, take that walk with the children and be with them at all times so they can be under supervision,” Van Hook said.

“In the event that there is some sudden emergency, we want to have some sense of where they are at, and if they are not back when we expect them to be, it’s better to understand where we think they should be.”

He also said to beware of tampered candy packages, although the issue has been mostly non-existent in Phoenix for the past few years.

For general fire prevention, Van Hook said that closing doors at night can stop the spread of fire throughout the house.

“Keeping those doors closed stops a flow pattern,” he said. “If air flow can travel from one part of the house to another, the fire can do that as well.”

He also said that choosing a holiday like Halloween or special occasion that happens once a year is a good way to remember to change the batteries on smoke detectors throughout the house.

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