Neighborhood Watch Notes - Fire Prevention Week is October 9 -15, 2011

Why does Fire Prevention Week always fall in October? Wouldn't it make more sense if it were right before Thanksgiving, the traditional start of the holiday season? Or, what about the first week in January? It's always good to remind folks about fire safety at the beginning of the year, isn't it?

For those who are not familiar with the history of this event, Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Most of us have heard the legend of Mrs. O'Leary's cow, right? The story goes that the fire started after a cow that belonged to Mrs. Catherine O'Leary kicked over a lamp that set the barn, then the entire city of Chicago ablaze for two days; October 8 and 9, 1871. 

There may or may not be any truth to the myth, and many have offered other theories on how the disaster began, but the Great Chicago Fire was not the only blaze that occurred over these two days. Nor was it the biggest. A forest fire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin that burned down 16 towns, killed over 1100 people and consumed 1.2 million acres also started on October 8 of that year. The devastation of these two fires changed the way that firefighers and public officials thought about fire safety. 

In 1911, on the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (now known as the International Fire Marshals Association) decided that the anniversary of this disaster should be observed in a way that informed the public about fire prevention instead of with celebrations. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday-through-Saturday week in which October 9 falls. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation for national observance of that week every year since 1925.

That's a brief history of Fire Prevention Week, but where are my safety tips?  

• A small spark could trigger a raging inferno in less time than you think. Make sure you handle the situation properly to prevent things from escalation to something much bigger. Before a fire can get out of your control, call the fire department immediately to come and help. Keep smoke alarms with working batteries in your home.  
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.  
• Test your alarms regualry and change batteries twice per year. A good way to remember this is to change them each time you set your clocks ahead or back in the spring or fall.  
• Don't leave lit candles unattended. Make sure the candle is on a flat and stable surface and there is nothing near the candle that can catch fire; draperies, papers, etc. If you leave the room or go to sleep, the candle should be extinguished and cooled.
• Handle cigarettes properly. Never smoke in bed. Don't throw a cigarette anywhere but in an ashtray.
• Keep matches, lighters and candle lighters away from small children.
• Don't overload outlets. This is especially important during holidays when we put up electical decorations. If you can, unplug anything you are not using to help clear some outlet space.
• In  the event of a fire, run out of the house immediately. Don't try to grab valuables. Get outside, get to a neighbor's house and call 911.
• Have multiple escape routes out of your home. If you don't plan one, and there is an emergency, you may ecome disoriented and not be able to find an exit.
• Stop, drop and roll if your clothes catch fire. Running will only fan the flames and make it worse.

For more information on Fire Prevention Week and additional fire safety tips, go to www.nfpa.org and click on the "Safety Information" tab. 

Or you can follow Fire Prevention Week on facebook and twitter:  http://nfpa.typepad.com/fpw/2011/10/follow-fire-prevention-week-on-facebook-and-twitter.html