Provided by Prince William Fire & Rescue
October is National Fire Prevention Month. The kickoff for the event begins Oct. 8 – 14 during National Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” urges the public to create a home fire escape plan and practice it frequently using different ways out of the home. Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue (pwcgov.org/fire) in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have teamed up for National Fire Prevention Week (fpw.org), urging the public to focus on the following key messages to increase your chances of surviving a home fire:
Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
- Make sure doors and windows are not blocked.
- Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home.
- Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Teach your children how to report an emergency to 9-1-1.
- Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
- Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
- Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
- Check your smoke detector every month by pushing the test button to activate the smoke detector alarm.
- To learn more about home fire escape planning and other fire safety topics, take the 2017
Fire Prevention Week Quiz at nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fireprevention-week/fire-prevention-week-quiz.
Smoke Alarms
Studies indicate that half of home fire deaths occur between 11:00 p. m. – 7:00 a. m., when most people are sleeping. Prince William County Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee states, “When a fire occurs in the home, smoke spreads quickly; smoke alarms provide an early warning allowing you time to escape a home fire.” When properly installed and maintained, working smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire. You double your chances of surviving a home fire with working smoke alarms compared to homes without working smoke alarms.” To find out more about smoke alarms, visit
pwcgov.org/SmokeAlarms.
Fire Prevention Week/Month Activities in Prince William County
Station 2 – Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton (O.W.L.) Volunteer Fire Department, 1306 F Street, Woodbridge
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Nikki’s Christian Daycare & Learning Center –Thursday, Oct. 12, 10:0 – 11:00 a. m.
Station 5 – Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department, 12826 Marsteller Drive, Nokesville
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Rainbow Preschool – Tuesday, Oct. 10 and Wednesday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a. m. and 2:00 p. m.
Station 10 – Dale City Volunteer Fire Department, 14975 Catalpa Court, Woodbridge
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Girl Scouts of America, Friday, Oct. 6, 8:30 a. m.
Open House – Sunday, Oct. 8 – Friday, Oct. 13, 6:00 p. m. – 8:00 p. m.
Station 11 – Stonewall Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, 7814 Garner Drive, Manassas
Open House – Saturday, Oct. 14 10:00 a. m.- 3:00 p. m.
Community Outreach – Inova Health System Open House – Saturday, Oct. 21, 12:00 noon – 4:00 p. m.
Station 12 – Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton (O.W.L.) Volunteer Fire Department, 2170 Montgomery Avenue, Woodbridge
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Minnieland Daycare – Tuesday, Oct. 10, 10:00 a. m.
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Potomac View Elementary – Thursday, Oct. 12, 10:00 a. m.
Station 13 – Dale City Volunteer Fire Department, 13511 Hillendale Drive, Woodbridge
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Enterprise Elementary – Wednesday, Oct. 11, 10:00 – 11:30 a. m.
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Minnieville Elementary – (date TBD), 9:00 – 11:00 a. m.
Open House – Sunday, Oct. 8- Friday, Oct. 13, 6:00 – 8:00 p. m.
Station 14 – Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton (O.W.L.) Volunteer Fire Department, 12400 Hedges Run Road, Woodbridge
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Springwoods Elementary – Tuesday, Oct. 10 –9:00 a. m.
Touch a Truck – Woodbridge High School – Saturday, Oct, 14, 10:00 a.am. – 2:00 p. m.
Open House – Saturday, Oct. 21, 12:00 – 3:00 p. m.
Fire Safety – Lake Ridge Fellowship House (date and time TBD)
Station 16 – Buckhall Volunteer Fire Department. 7190 Yates Ford Road, Manassas
Open House – Saturday, Oct. 14, 10:00 a. m. – 2:00 p. m.
Station 17 – Dumfries-Triangle Volunteer Fire Department, 15219 Holleyside Drive, Montclair
Community Outreach – Four Seasons at Historic Virginia – National Firefighters Memorial Day Ceremony, Sunday, Oct. 8, 9:00 a. m.
General Fire Safety – Dale City Recreation Center – Tuesday, Oct. 10, 10:30 a. m. and 1:30 p. m.
Community Outreach – Spaghetti Dinner – Friday, Oct. 13, 5:00 – 7:00 p. m.
Station 18 – Dale City Volunteer Fire Department, 5849 Dale Boulevard, Woodbridge,
Open House – Sunday, Oct. 8 – Friday, Oct. 13, 6:00 – 8:00 p. m.
Station 20 – Dale City Volunteer Fire Department, 3171 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge,
Open House – Sunday, Oct. 8 – Friday, Oct. 13 6:00 – 8:00 p. m.
Open House – Saturday, Oct. 14, 9:00 a. m. – 4:00 p. m.
Station 23 – Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue, 16530 River Ridge Boulevard, Woodbridge
Community Outreach – Potomac High School Homecoming Parade – Friday, Oct. 6, 5:15 p. m.
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – St. Francis Church – Sunday, Oct. 8, 1:15 p. m.
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 10:00 a. m.
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – Mary Williams Elementary, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 1:30 p. m.
General Fire Safety/Show & Tell – River Oaks Elementary, Thursday, Oct. 12, 1:00 p. m.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week, visit the National Fire Protection Association at fpw.org.
