No one takes fire safety more seriously than Dan Wilson.

The Austin fire chief is a walking, talking — lots of talking — advertisement for preventing fires.

The day after a candle caught a couch on fire on the front porch of a Lansing Township home, Wilson was part-lecturer on the importance of fire safety this week.

“This could have been much more dangerous than it was,” Wilson said.

The Austin Fire Department was called to a residence one mile north of Austin along U.S. Highway 218 North at 12:43 p.m. Wednesday.

Turning fire prevention lecturer, Wilson switched from graphically detailing the narrow escape and said the most important item in home fire safety is an escape plan.

“We teach kids to call 911 and to use their escape plan,” he said.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, all families should have an escape plan that they draw and discuss ahead of time.

Everyone in a household should be familiar with the escape plan and practice it to perfection.

At least two ways out of every room should be known and there should be a designated meeting place outside where all family members congregate after evacuating the house.

For more information about fire safety, contact the Austin Fire Department at 433-3405.