October 5-11 marks Fire Prevention Week, reminding families across America to take necessary precautions to prevent home fires and prepare their families in the event of a home fire. Each year more Americans die in home fires than all natural disasters combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A home fire happens every 76 seconds, and nearly 80 percent of all fire deaths happen in homes.
Last year, the Red Cross responded to more than 74,000 disasters in communities across the United States, 93% of which were fire related. Home fires are not only the most common disaster that the Red Cross responds to but also the most preventable.
A little history
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.
According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow – belonging to Mrs. Catherine O’Leary – kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. But recent research by Chicago historian Robert Cromie has helped to debunk this version of events.
The biggest blaze that week
While the Great Chicago Fire was the best-known blaze to start during this fiery two-day stretch, it wasn’t the biggest. That distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating forest fire in American history. The fire, which also occurred on October 8th, 1871 roared through Northeast Wisconsin, burning down 16 towns, killing 1,152 people, and scorching 1.2 million acres before it ended. It was the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin that suffered the worst damage. Within an hour, the entire town had been destroyed.
Eight decades of fire prevention
Those who survived the Chicago and Peshtigo fires never forgot what they’d been through; both blazes produced countless tales of bravery and heroism. But the fires also changed the way that firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.
In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.
Fire Safety Tips - Numerous fire departments around the country and the National Fire Prevention Association provide tips and valuable information regarding fire safety. Here’s a small sampling:
- Develop a home fire escape plan with two exits from each room
- Share plan with entire family and Practice twice a year
- Assign a safe family meeting place outside away from the home and get there as quickly as possible
- Avoid overloading electrical outlets
- Maintain a working smoke detector
- Never leave food that is cooking unattended
- Never leave burning candles unattended
- Fire fighters are your friends and there to help. Children should know never to hide from a fire fighter during a fire
- Stay low and go: smoke rises and breathable air stays close to the ground
- Get out and stay out: never go back in the house for any reason until a fire fighter says its okay
For fun children’s fire safety activities visit NFPA’s Sparky
Reproduced from NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2008 NFPA
For more information – also visit the American Red Cross
