Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

Importance of fire prevention

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

Why home escape planning and practice matter

Home escape planning and practice ensure that everyone knows what to do in a fire and is prepared to escape quickly and safely.
Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds.
When the smoke alarm sounds in a real fire, it’s too late to start making a plan.

Create a home escape plan with all members of your household and practice it! Here are some essentials for making a plan:

Map it out - Draw or map out the layout of your home, marking two exits from every room (typically a door and a window) and a path from each exit to the outside.
Smoke alarms - Mark the location of all smoke alarms in your home. (There should be at least one on every level, in each bedroom, and near all sleeping areas.)
Meeting place - Pick a meeting place outside your home where everyone will meet upon exiting.
911 - Make sure everyone knows how to call 911 or the local emergency number from a mobile phone or neighbor's phone once they're safely outside.

Here's more fire safety information you can use:

Cover all the bases for your family with our fire escape checklist.
Older adults are more likely to die in a fire. Help keep them safe with our fire safety checklist for caregivers of older adults.
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