This year marks the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15), and it’s a good time to remind readers how they can protect themselves.
The National Fire Protection Association notes that “today’s homes burn faster than ever.” From the time the smoke alarm sounds, you may have two minutes or less to safely escape.
The association’s theme for the week is “Fire Won’t Wait! Plan Your Escape!”
“The ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning,” said Ohio’s State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon.
Safety tips include knowing an escape route from each room in the home, having smoke detectors in each sleeping area and level of the home and a fire extinguish, and practice fire drills with an outside meeting place for everyone. For more information, visit www.fpw.org.
Locally, insurance agent Joni Stanton recently donated a Fire Prevention Week informational kit to the BST&G Fire District.
“A big part of making sure you and your family are safe from the dangers of a fire, is to prevent the fire from happening in the first place,” said the district’s website, which has a link of Fire Prevention Forms “that can help you in your fire prevention plans.” For more information, visit bstgfire.org.
On Sunday, flags across Ohio were flown at half-staff in observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. Concord Township Fire Inspector Jack Guyton attended the event, which took place in Maryland. He and other members of the Ohio team were assigned to the family of a fallen firefighter, Concord’s Facebook page said. The event was streamed at firehero.org.
On Sunday, Oct. 16, the Orange Township Fire Department will hold its 2022 Fire Prevention Week open house from noon to 3 p.m. at 7700 Gooding Blvd., Delaware. The public can tour the station, meet the firefighters, and kids can climb on the trucks. There will be firefighter demonstrations, fire extinguisher training, home safety displays and fire safety materials.
October is also Fire Prevention Month.
In Genoa Township, there will be a “Trick-or-Treat Village” at the Fire Station, 7049 Big Walnut Road, from noon-3 p.m. Oct. 29. Along with a haunted house, snacks, giveaways, touch-a-truck and using the fire hose, children can compete in a Fire Escape Plan contest where they can win tickets to Rockin’ Jump, courtesy of the Genoa Township Professional Firefighter Local 4307. See genoatwp.com for details.
