Fire Prevention Week brings awareness to the risks involved with fire and strives to educate everyone about practices that can prevent fires and help people escape safely in the event of a fire. This year, Fire Prevention Week runs from October 7-13 under the theme,"Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere."
- Look for places fire could start. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.
- Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. If you hear it, then head outside right away and call 911 once you are a safe distance away from the fire.
- Learn 2 ways out of every room. Make sure exits are free of clutter and everyone knows how to use the doors and windows.
How to Make an Escape Plan
During a fire, seconds are important! There is no time to stop and think about an escape route, so knowing what to do before a fire occurs can save your life! Making an escape plan and practising it with your family is an essential part of fire safety, so follow these steps to make your plan:
- Install working smoke alarm on all levels. Smoke alarms act as a first line of defence in a fire, so make sure to install/maintain your home smoke alarms. If possible, interconnect them so that when one goes off, they all go off.
- Draw a floor plan of your home. Make an outline of each floor of your home and label each room.
- Identify at least two exits from each room. Windows can serve as the second emergency exit. If a window is considered an exit, make sure all family members can open the locks and windows easily for a quick escape. Security bars on windows and doors must have a quick-release mechanism to make an escape possible. Make sure you have a safe way to reach the ground.
- Choosing a meeting place is also important. All family members should be taught to report to the meeting place after escaping a fire. This place should be a safe distance away from the fire.
- Schedule a home fire drill. Practising the escape plan will help ensure everyone is ready to evacuate the home in the event of a fire.
Open House Event
To promote Fire Prevention Week, on October 13, 2018, the public is invited to attend Edmonton Fire Rescue Services "Fire Prevention Week" Open House from noon-4pm. Edmontonians are welcome to meet firefighters and a fire prevention officer, while learning about fire safety and finding out about all the services Edmonton Fire Rescue Services provides to Edmontonians.
- Station 25 (Lake District) 8403 167 Avenue
