Fire Prevention Week Begins Oct. 7
This year, Fire Prevention Week will span Oct. 7 to Oct. 13. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is raising awareness about fire prevention this and offering activities and games to help people prepare should they need to escape from a fire.
NFPA and "Sparky the Fire Dog" are offering activities and games at no cost through www.firepreventionweek.org or www.sparky.org.
In 2006, 80 percent of all fire deaths were caused by home fires. Last year, roughly 2,600 people were killed by home fires and 12,500 were injured, according to NFPA reports.
Only 23 percent of households have actually developed and practiced a plan to assist them in escaping from a home fire, according to a poll conducted for NFPA. This year's theme, "It's Fire Prevention Week -- Practice Your Escape Plan!" is aimed at encouraging the public to be prepared to escape from a fire in their home.
"It is not enough just to have a home fire escape plan in place; it is vital that everyone living in the home practice the plan," said Judy Comoletti, AVP of public education for NFPA. "You can have as little as two minutes to get out when fire strikes. Having a plan that has been practiced greatly increases your chances of surviving a fire."
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