National Fire Prevention Week
When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out
Release Date: September 30, 2003
Release Number: R10-03-122
Seattle, WA -- Next week (October 5-11) is National Fire Prevention Week, and this year's campaign theme is "When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out!" Fire Prevention Week is a public-private partnership designed to battle U.S. fire losses and empower citizens to take simple but effective steps to prevent fires from occurring and to protect themselves and their families when they do. According to Department of Homeland Security FEMA Regional Director John Pennington, most Americans underestimate their risk for fire, and many either lack emergency response plans - or fail to practice them with fire drills.
"Observances like National Fire Prevention Week allow all of us to take a 'time out' from our daily preoccupations to focus on those critical actions necessary to save our loved ones from injury and death," said Pennington. "I urge everyone to install and maintain smoke alarms, develop and practice a home fire escape plan, and…once out of a burning building, stay out!"
Pennington also cautioned against complacency for those living in wooded or urban interface areas. "Wildfire season may be drawing to a close, but now is not the time to lower our guard. We need to continue to maintain defensible perimeters around our homes, remove flammable brush and religiously comply with announced burn bans."
This year, Fire Prevention Week's official sponsor, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is joining forces with the Department of Homeland Security and its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA), with underwriting from the Home Safety Council and Pella Corporation. Contact your local fire department to learn more about making your home safer from fire, or how you can best participate in fire prevention activities.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 30-Sep-2003 16:25:14