Today’s home fires burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice.
The Newton Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ for more than 90 years - to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere™,” which works to educate the public about basic but essential ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire. NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week is set for October 7 – 13.
NFPA statistics show that the number of U.S. home fires has been steadily declining over the past few decades. However, the death rate per 1000 home fires that are reported to fire departments was 10 percent higher in 2016 than in 1980.
“These numbers show that while we’ve made significant progress in teaching people how to prevent fires from happening, there’s still much more work to do in terms of educating the public about how to protect themselves in the event of one,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “This is particularly critical given the increased speed at which today’s home fires grow and spread.”
Carli also notes that although people feel safest in their home, it is also the place people are at greatest risk to fire, with four out of five U.S. fire deaths occurring at home. That over-confidence contributes to a complacency toward home escape planning and practice.
“Working in the fire service for many years, we know that people often make choices in fire situations that jeopardize their safety or even cost them their lives,” said Chief Jarrod Wellik of the Newton Fire Department. “We need to do a better job of teaching people about the potentially life-saving difference escape planning and practice can make and motivate them to action.”
Chief Wellik says this year’s “Look. Listen. Learn.” campaign highlights three steps people can take to help quickly and safely escape a fire:
- Look for places fire could start.
- Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm.
- Learn two ways out of every room.
While NFPA and the Newton Fire Department are focusing on home fires, these fire safety messages apply to virtually anywhere.
“Situational awareness is a skill people need to use wherever they go,” said Wellik. “No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately. The Newton Fire Department goes out to schools in the Newton community each year to work with third graders on the importance of knowing what to do when a fire breaks out in the home. Students are able to practice exiting our fire safety trailer after a smoke detector sounds. In addition, each student is able to make a 911 call to ensure they know their address and can accurately report a fire. “
The Newton Fire Department urges parents to take this opportunity to talk with your kids about fire safety and make sure they know the importance of getting out of the house when they hear a smoke detector and where the family will meet once they are outside. Never assume children know what to do – their lives may depend on it.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week and home escape planning, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.