2012 Fire Prevention Week "HAVE 2 WAYS OUT!"

Posted on  10/05/2012 5:06 pm

Wilmington Fire Chief Willie J. Patrick, Jr. and Wilmington Fire Marshal William T. McKim, Jr. are pleased to announce our participation in the 2012 Fire Prevention Week campaign which will run from Sunday, October 7 through Saturday, October 13.

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

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 period in which October 9 falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925. **

Each of us can take precautions in our homes to safeguard our loved ones from the hazards of fire. Smoke alarms are vital detection devices; and properly installing and maintaining them in the home can help keep our families safe. This year’s theme, HAVE 2 WAYS OUT, also stresses the importance of planning and periodically practicing a home fire escape plan. Having a fire escape plan that keeps in mind the fact that your first escape route may be blocked by smoke or flames provides the best opportunity for family members of all ages to be prepared to think and act when every moment counts!

As in years past, each of the Wilmington Fire Stations will be open to the public during Fire Prevention Week for the distribution of fire prevention materials and smoke alarms. Wilmington Fire Department’s ongoing goal is to significantly reduce the likelihood of injuries and deaths related to fires, smoke and/or carbon monoxide through proactive education.

**  NFPA Website “About Fire Prevention Week"