October is Fire Prevention Month! The goal of Fire Prevention Month is to raise fire safety awareness, and help ensure your home and family is protected. Oct. 4 thru 10 also marks Fire Prevention Week. During this month, fire departments provide education to their communities, and encourage parents and loved ones to practice fire prevention and whole home safety.
Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public health observance in the United States, commemorating the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It’s always held during the week that contains October 9, the anniversary of the fire’s second and worst day — which is why the dates shift slightly from year to year. Each year, the campaign gives fire departments, schools, families, and community groups a focused safety message they can actually teach and use. Some years center on cooking, smoke alarms, or escape planning.
Charge into Fire Safety
This year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging Is a Superpower”, announced by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The message is timely and practical. More homes than ever rely on rechargeable devices, power tools, e-bikes, scooters, and battery-powered toys. That convenience comes with a simple truth firefighters already know well: when lithium-ion batteries fail, the fire problem can escalate fast.
This year’s campaign focuses on the everyday charging habits that reduce the risk of overheating, smoke, fire, and battery failure. That is a smart direction. Most preventable battery-fire problems do not begin with dramatic abuse. They begin with shortcuts: the wrong charger, a damaged cable, charging on a bed, leaving large battery-powered equipment plugged in near an exit, or ignoring early warning signs like swelling, heat, or a strange odor.
Did You Know?
Fire Prevention Week/Month is the perfect time to educate and talk with your whole family about fire safety – include testing alarms, changing the batteries or upgrading to 10-year sealed battery alarms, how to use a fire extinguisher and escape route planning.
- 3 of every 5 home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms
- Less than 50% of homeowners have an escape plan
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is the #1 cause of accidental poisoning in the US
- 60% of consumers do not test their smoke and CO alarms monthly*
- Only 47% of people report having CO alarms in their home
- Just 43% of homeowners have an escape plan*
- Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of home fires
Help Protect Your Whole Home
It’s wise to practice whole home safety every day, so you and your family are prepared not only during Fire Prevention Week and Month, but throughout the entire year. Having functioning alarms installed throughout your home is the first line of defense for fire prevention. They work around the clock to provide your family an early alert in the event of an emergency, providing you time to safely escape. Smoke and CO alarms should be placed on every level of the home, including the basement, as well as inside and outside each bedroom to keep your home and family safe. Fire extinguishers should also be placed on every level of the home, especially in the kitchen and garage.
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