This week is Fire Prevention Week.
It’s an annual event held nationwide to remind residents of the dangers of a house fire, and how easy they can happen.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, if you have a fire in your home today, you are more likely to die than you were in 1980. That’s due to the way homes are built these days (open floors plans and synthetic furnishings which burn faster) and what’s in them. Data shows you can have as little as two to three minutes to escape a home fire today as compared to eight to ten minutes years ago.
These concerns prompted NFPA to create “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, 2018. It emphasizes three basic but critical messages:
- Look for places fire can start
- Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm
- Learn two ways out of each room
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week messages point to the essentials of home fire safety,” said Butler City Fire Lieutenant Don Crawford. “Looking for potential fire hazards in the home, making sure your smoke alarms are working properly, and having a home escape plan that everyone has practiced – these actions can dramatically reduce the loss from home fires.”
Motivating the public to take these steps can prove challenging, officials say, because people don’t think they could have a fire, despite the fact that home is the place they’re at greatest risk. Four out of five U.S. fire deaths occur in homes.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, and this year’s theme, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere,” visit here.
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