Picton, ON – Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week (FPW), October 9-15, 2022.
This year’s campaign – Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape – aims to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.
Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme.
“It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different,” says Fire Prevention Officer Greg Gorsline. “Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them.”
“Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes or less to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning,” says Lorraine Carli, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA.
Here are some important home fire escape planning tips:
- Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
- Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
- Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
- Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
- Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.
Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week. Open houses will take place on Saturday, October 15 from 11 am to 2 pm at all County Fire Stations:
- Station 1 – 8 McDonald Drive, Picton
- Station 2 – 126 County Road 32, Hallowell
- Station 3 – 3080 County Road 10, Milford
- Station 4 – 2771 County Road 5, Sophiasburgh
- Station 5 – 219 County Road 3, Rossmore
- Station 6 – 14 County Road 29, Consecon
- Station 7 – 44 Belleville Street, Wellington
- Station 8 – 3819 County Road 3, Carrying Place
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities, please contact Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue at 613.476.2345 or fire@pecounty.on.ca.
For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention in general, visit NFPA.org or sparky.org.
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For media inquiries, please contact Mark Kerr at 613.476.2148 ext. 1009 or by email at mkerr@pecounty.on.ca