"Stay Fire SmartDon't Get Burned," is the theme for Fire Prevention Week as officials with the Wheeling Fire Department will be educating the public and elementary school students each day this week.

Assistant Fire Chief Ed Geisel said, "The focus this year is 'How to prevent from getting burned,'" and following basic fire safety tips.

Lt. Dave Palmer said members of the engine companies will be stationed at several locations in city of Wheeling handing out fire prevention material. Palmer said he will be visiting six Ohio County schools along with Lt. Jon Barry, as they provide fire prevention and safety tips to students with the use of the department's fire safety house.

The schools the department will be visiting during Fire Prevention Week are Warwood Elementary, Corpus Christi, Woodsdale Elementary, Bethlehem Elementary, Ritchie Elementary and Steenrod Elementary.

This year's theme focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe from the leading causes of home fires. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries, with unattended cooking being the leading cause of cooking fires, according to sources.

Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths. One out of four victims of fatal smoking related fires is not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire. Heating is the second leading cause of fire deaths. Half of all heating related fire deaths happen December through February.

Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, the two-day blaze that killed more than 250 people and left 100,000 homeless in 1871. The tragedy inspired reform across America, spurring new fire safety codes and public awareness campaigns.

Each October, the National Fire Protection Association sponsors a fire prevention campaign to highlight the importance of fire safety education.

West Virginia's fall forest fire season began Oct. 1 and runs through end of December.

During these three months all outdoor burning is prohibited from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents may only burn vegetative materials, including brush, leaves and limbs, only after 4 p.m. Anyone conducting outdoor burning must stay with the fire until it is completely extinguished, and all burning must be concluded prior to 7 a.m.

West Virginia Division of Forestry officials recommend exercising common sense when conducting outdoor burning. For more information about the state's outdoor burning laws, visit the division of forestry's Web site at www.wvforestry.com.