Posted on November 3, 2010 by Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines
Fire Prevention Week 2010 is now over. During that week all across the country fire departments participated in and sponsored many community fire prevention activities. Most of us look forward to this time each year to work with our neighbors and friends and to share the important information that we have about fire and how to prevent it. Unfortunately, for some, this is the only time in the year when we make opportunities to do the important work of educating the public about fire prevention.
We know that most civilian fire fatalities occur at home. Approximately 66% of these deaths occur in homes without a working smoke alarm. Fire spreads quickly and there are only minutes for residents to escape. That is why working smoke alarms and residential sprinklers can play such an important part in saving lives.
In addition to saving lives after a fire occurs, we can teach people how to keep from ever having a fire to start with. Simple things like giving space heaters space and checking electric cords can help "fight fire" without having to get all hot, dirty, and smoky. The fire service is a respected group and people will listen when we talk about the ways that people can be safer when it comes to preventing fires and loss of life from fire. Fighting fire isn't limited to responding to an incident. It includes working with your community to prevent tragedies before they occur in many different ways, such as by working with local organizations to reach out and get the fire prevention message to every segment of the community.
With 1.3 million firefighters in this country, fighting fire early, before ignition occurs, can make a tremendous difference in our own community and throughout the country by teaching fire safety and prevention and saving lives before they are even in peril.
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Last Reviewed: November 3, 2010
Prepare for a fire emergency: install residential fire sprinklers in your home. Learn abt them at http://t.co/gsABiFXM September 14, 2012 @ 9:11 AM ET
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