Milwaukee elementary students learn safety tips to kick off Fire Prevention Week

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Second graders from Milwaukee's Cooper Elementary School did a little presentation at Milwaukee's Survive Alive House Monday, Oct. 9, marking the start of Fire Prevention Week. 

The theme for Fire Prevention Week this year is safety in the kitchen.

Fire officials tell us cooking fires account for more than half of all deadly fires across the country. 

"At this point, we are a little bit over 405,000 students that we have served since we opened our doors back in February of 1991, and we have seen an incredible drop in the amount of fires where people are dying, including kids," said Lt. Carlos Velazquez-Sanchez, director of Survive Alive. 

Monday's kickoff is the first of five days of events to promote fire safety. 

Tuesday's focus is on the importance of having working smoke detectors in your home.

Those in the city who need a smoke alarm can call 414-286-8980 to have one installed in their home.