Fire safety: Every October, Fire Prevention Week &
Change your clock, change your battery

Fire Prevention Week: Practice Your Escape Plan

Each year, Fire Prevention Week falls around the 9th of October. This was the date in 1871 when Mrs. O'Leary's cow is alleged to have started the Great Chicago Fire.

In 2008, Fire Prevention Week will be October 5 - 11 with the theme, "It's Fire Prevention Week:  Prevent Home Fires!"  For 2007, Fire Prevention Week was October 7-13 and the theme was "Practice Your Escape Plan."

Visit the National Fire Protection Association Web site (external link) to learn more about Fire Prevention Week.

Change your clock, change your battery

The annual "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery!" safety program also occurs during the month of October.

The program promotes the adoption of a simple lifesaving habit: Change all smoke alarm batteries when you change your clocks back to Standard Time each fall.

Smoke alarm tips

• Change your smoke alarm batteries.
• Check your smoke alarms.
• Count your smoke alarms.
• Clean your smoke alarms.

Go to the Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery handout (PDF*, 158KB) for detailed information.

*Note: To view PDFs, free software from Adobe is required. See helpful hints for assistance.

To request information in alternate formats for people with disabilities, call 206-296-6600 or TTY 206-296-7217.