Today kicks off Fire Prevention Week which runs until Saturday October, 13. In accordance with this year’s theme, Fire Prevention Week encourages everyone to develop the following fire safety habits:
The goal of this week is to promote fire safety education, as well as provide lifesaving educational tools to everyone from small children and teens, to adults and seniors.
Another incentive is to increase awareness of how someone’s education level, socio-economic status, and geographic location can factor into them potentially being injured in a fire. Currently, children under 5 and seniors over 65 have the highest risk for being injured or killed in a fire.
Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public health-related observance in the history of the United States.
Since 1922, this event has been sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge decided that Fire Prevention Week should be observed on a national level.
Traditionally this week is held during the week of October 9 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Legend holds that the blaze started when a family’s cow knocked over a lighted lantern; however, the family denies it and the true cause of the fire has never been determined.
The fire, which began on October 8 and continued for two days, killed 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.
Some of the ways you can promote fire safety in your home include:
If you've considered becoming a firefighter, perhaps you should enroll in Hocking College’s Firefighter Certificate program. In only one semester, students can graduate with their Occupational Certificate in Firefighter Certificate and be able to utilize the following skills and knowledge:
For more information about the Fire program, contact the Fire Sciences Program Manager Rick Best by email at bestr35625@hocking.edu or by phone at (740) 753-6493.