Vigilant Fire Chief Andrew J. DeMartin gives us one more good reason to quit smoking: It is the number one cause of all fatal apartment fires.

Nearly a third of these fires are caused by smoking in bed. Close behind bed-smoking is dropping a cigarette in upholstered furniture and throwing smoldering cigarettes in waste baskets.

The first week in October has been designated Fire Prevention and Safety Week, and the Vigilant Fire Company is hot on the fire prevention trail.

Vigilant's 120 volunteer fire fighters and medical personnel responded to 311 fire calls this year. They hope to reduce the number of these calls with booklets chock full of life-saving fire prevention tips that they distribute free of charge at the Great Neck Plaza Street Festival as well as at their fire station on Cutter Mill Road.

Vigilant Fire Company has even produced a fire safety coloring book for children. It is so well done, the illustrations are so easy to follow, it would be suitable for a child as young as three. Through the use of simple graphics, the book shows how to plan for a fire emergency; how to escape a burning building; what to do if your clothes catch fire; and how even very young children can help the fire company.

One of the booklets Vigilant offers for adults is called ''E.D.I.T.H.'' (Exit Drills In the Home), which includes these tips: Be sure everyone has a second way out. Make sure security devices open easily. (In a fire you might not be able to find a key.) Always sleep with bedroom doors closed. (This will keep heat and smoke out for a short time¬the few extra minutes you may need to escape.) Find a way for everyone to sound a family fire alarm. (Blow a whistle, pound on walls, yell, etc.) In a fire, seconds count. (Don't waste time dressing or looking for valuables or pets. As much as they mean to you, your life is more important.) Roll out of bed. (Stay low. Just one breath of smoke or hot gases can kill you.) Feel the door. (If the door or doorknob is hot, don't open it! Instead, use your second way out.)

Thanks to efforts of fire service professionals, it is estimated that 93 percent of American homes now have smoke alarms. But, they also estimate that millions of these are at least 10 years old, and may not be operating at optimum performance levels: ''Be Safe...Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years...'' And Chief DeMartin also reminds us that the batteries should be changed twice a year, at the same time we change the time.

Chief DeMartin pointed out: ''Many of our volunteers use the training they get with us as a steppingstone to careers in medicine and non-volunteer fire fighting positions. But perhaps even more important,'' he said, ''is the sense of camaraderie among our fire fighters,'' and he added, ''we are always looking for more volunteers.''

Vigilant is also looking forward to the delivery of a third ambulance in early January, ''the better to serve the community,'' Chief DeMartin said. ''Our wish is for a very safe year for everyone.''

For more information about volunteering, or to receive the free coloring book, ''E.D.I.T.H.,'' or other safety tip booklets, visit the Vigilant Fire House at 83 Cutter Mill Road, or call 487-1086.