Provided by Prince William Fire & Rescue
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 7-13. This year’s theme is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be Aware. Fire Can Happen Anywhere.” It was created to educate the public about three steps they can take to reduce the likelihood of having a fire and how to escape safely s a fire. The Prince William County Fire & Rescue System, in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), have teamed up for National Fire Prevention Week (fpw.org). We urge the public to focus on the following key messages to increase your chances of surviving a home fire:
LOOK
- Look for places fire could start.
- Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.
LISTEN
- Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds.
- Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.
LEARN
- Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.
Home Fire Escape Plan
- Draw a map of your home by using our grid in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF) 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.
Smoke Alarms
Studies indicate that half of home fire deaths occur between 11:00 p. m. to 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.
2018 Fire Prevention Week/Month Activities in Prince William County
Station 7 – Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire Department – 9305 Brentsville Road, Manassas
- Open House – Saturday, Oct. 6, 11:00 a. m. – 2:00 p.m.
- 5th Annual Car/Truck/Bike/Antique Fire Truck Show (All proceeds donated to Children’s Hospital), Manassas Moose Lodge, Saturday, Oct. 13, 9:00 a. m. – 3:00 p. m.
Station 11 – Stonewall Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, 7814 Garner Drive, Manassas
- Open House – Saturday, Oct. 13, 10:00 a. m. – 3:00 p. m.
Station 14 – Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton (O.W.L.) Volunteer Fire Department, 12400 Hedges Run Road, Woodbridge
- Fire Safety Presentation – Lake Ridge Fellowship House, Oct. 10, 10:00 a. m.
- Open House – Saturday, Oct. 13, 12:00 noon – 3:00 p. m.
Station 16 – Buckhall Volunteer Fire Department, 7190 Yates Ford Road, Manassas
- Open House – Saturday, Oct. 13, 10:00 a. m. – 2:00 p. m.
Station 25 – Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department, 9405 Devlins Grove Place, Bristow
- Open House – Saturday, Oct. 27, 10:00 a. m. – 2:00 p. m.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week, visit the National Fire Protection Association at fpw.org. Be sure to visit us on Facebook facebook.com/PWCFireRescue and Twitter @PWCFireRescue for updates on Fire Prevention activities in October.
