Fire Chief Alston on Friday. Make sure you have functional smoke detectors in your home, and a designated area of refuge outside, and a working knowledge of how to ​“PASS” a fire extinguisher.Top city officials offered those tips Friday morning at a National Fire Prevention Week press conference.Before a lineup of a dozen city firefighters, Fire Chief John Alston, Mayor Justin Elicker, Livable City Initiative (LCI) Executive Director Liam Brennan, and a host of other city leaders gathered for the presser at the Chief Michael E. Grant Regional Fire Training School at 230 Ella T. Grasso Blvd.The event took place less than a week after a fatal fire at a three-family house on Elm Street left 32-year-old New Havener Kenneth Mims dead and displaced nine others on Sunday.Even though last Sunday’s blaze was the first fatal fire in New Haven in more than two years, Alston said, the city saw 200 fires and between 20 and 30 related injuries in 2023. So far in 2024, there have been 149 fires, resulting in one death, 14 injuries, and the displacement of 126 residents.Alston stressed the importance of having working smoke alarms in every home. City fire inspectors Michael Proto and Tomas Reyes said the same, urging all New Haveners to check the batteries on their smoke detectors twice a year. They also recommended identifying with family, friends, and housemates a safe space outside of the home where residents can plan to gather at in case they need to leave quickly amid a fire. And they spoke about the importance of ensuring that all egresses in a building are unblocked and accessible.Alston then explained the acronym ​“PASS” as a mnemonic device for how to use a fire distinguisher.P stands for ​“pull the pin.”A for ​“aim at the fire.”S for ​“squeeze handle.”S for ​“sweep.”“Working smoke alarms for every sleeping room, portable fire extinguishers, fire safety plans (including knowing your exits and means of egress), fire escape drills, and other measures are critical to preventing fires and staying safe in the event of a fire,” reads a city press release for Friday’s event. ​“Through a partnership with the American Red Cross, free smoke alarms and installations and other home fire safety resources are available to residents, and can be requested by going to SoundTheAlarm.org/Connecticut or by calling (877) 287‑3327.”Fire inspectors Michael Proto and Tomas Reyes.