Comprehensive: Firehouse.com's FPW2000 Zone
HEATHER CASEY
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Photos By Chauncey Bowers
Jessica Holley explains how her family used their exit plan eight days after she created it
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Jessica Holley of Plano, Texas received a homework assignment in 1998 to prepare a home escape plan in case of a fire. This assignment saved her entire family during an electrical fire just eight days later.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which was responsible for Jessica Holley's homework assignment, officially kicked off Fire Prevention Week 2000 at a news conference Wednesday in Washington, DC.
The event featured Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), serving as the NFPA Honorary Chairperson of Fire Prevention Week 2000, and members of the Holley family
Sparky the Fire Dog stole the show for students from Kingsford Elementary School in Mitchellville, Maryland, who came to work on their own escape plans.
Meri-K Appy, NFPA vice president for public education, welcomed everyone to the event and stressed the importance of children and their parents working together to plan for emergencies. "The difference between tragedy and a happy ending is education and advanced planning," she said.
Jessica Holley explained how her fourth grade homework assignment helped her family prepare for their fire.
Photos By Chauncey Bowers
Sparky and Senator Kennedy inspect the fire safety art work of students from Kingsford Elementary School located in Prince George's County.
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"We mapped out two ways of escape from every room, established a meeting place, and did a fire drill," she said. "Eight days later fire broke out in our home."
"Jessica convinced us planning for fire safety was the right thing to do," said her mother, Elizabeth Holley. "I was so thankful that we were all together and accounted for."
Senator Kennedy outlined the NFPA's Great Escape program, which is now entering its third and final year. The program works through schools to give students and their parents information about preventing and escaping fires, and has already saved a documented 58 lives from fire and smoke inhalation.
"The Great Escape program is helping to save families' lives, and firefighters' lives too," Kennedy said.
"So I commend all firefighters, educators, parents, members of the National Fire Prevention Association, and the many others who work so hard and well to share the message of fire safety now and throughout the year. The nation is in your debt," he said.
Seven-year-olds from Kingsford Elementary School were excited to share what they've been learning.
Photos By Chauncey Bowers
Senator Kennedy and Prince George's County, MD Fire Chief Ronald Siarnicki discuss the impact of the "Great Escape" exit drill program.
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"I learned never go back if there's a fire and never play with fire," said Ashley Garland.
"I learned to crawl when there's smoke in the air and when the door's hot you look out the window and yell help," said Jamal Price.
"It's cool," Derryl Valentine said of fire safety education. "I can't wait to tell my mom about this. I saw the camera looking at us."
Other speakers and attendees included NFPA President George D. Miller, Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), Chief Timothy P. Travers of the Whitman, Mass. Fire Dept., Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki of the Prince George's County, Md. Fire/Emergency Medical Services Dept., Alan and Nathan Holley, and officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 8-14.
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