We live and work in an extreme fire hazard environment.  We are all familiar with Kandahar's low humidity, strong winds, and combustible materials everywhere you look.  What does this mean to you?  It means a small fire can turn into a large out of control fire in a matter of seconds, and fires in this environment are very difficult to put out. 

There have been a few small fires in South Park since I have been here and luckily, no one was hurt and they only caused minor damages.  However, these fires could have quickly gotten out of hand and expanded to some of the tents if it wasn't for the quick actions of some very alert personnel. 

I want to take this time to remind everyone that fire prevention and knowing what to do in the event of a fire is everyone's responsibility and cannot be overemphasized in this extreme environment.

Below are a few fire safety precautions we all should be practicing in our daily activities:

· Smoke only in designated smoking areas and properly dispose of smoking material in approved containers (check to  make sure there is no trash in butt cans)

· Do not overload electrical circuits or daisy chain extension cords or surge protectors

· Turn off or unplug electrical appliances when not in use

· Ensure smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are present and inspected monthly

· Empty trash daily

Also, in the unfortunate event there is a fire; do you know who to call, where to go, or how to operate a fire extinguisher? 

If not, it is a good idea to review your facilities emergency evacuation plan to be familiar with the procedures.  This will prevent panic and make for a smooth evacuation if the time ever comes to do so.