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With Fire Prevention Week just around the corner, Fire & Emergency Services is reminding everyone in the community that fire won’t wait, you need to plan your escape.
This year’s theme for the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, which runs from Oct. 9 to 15, 2022, as set out by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape” and works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
“Today’s homes burn faster than ever,” said Charles Turpin, fire prevention officer. “You may have as little as two minutes (or less) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, and given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different.”
Follow these safety tips to help you “Plan your escape”:
- Make a home escape plan and discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
- Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible.
- Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
- Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Close doors behind you as you leave.
If the fire alarm sounds …
- If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people or pets.
- If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.
- Call the fire department from outside your home.
To kick-off Fire Prevention Week, Port Colborne Fire & Emergency Services are hosting an open house on Saturday, Oct.1, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees can expect to enjoy face painting, carnival games including fire hydrant hula-hoop toss, sparky striker, squirt a fire hose, bean bag toss, and obstacle course, fire fighter photo booth, live burn, explore fire trucks, meet sparky the fire dog, a kitchen fire demonstration, and free hot dogs, popcorn, and juice boxes.
Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services are also hosting an escape planning colouring contest for a family to win a pizza party. Individuals can pick up a colouring sheet at the Fire Prevention Week kick-off on Oct.1 or download at www.portcolborne.ca/fireservices. The contest closes Oct. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
To learn more about fire prevention week and why home escape practice and planning are more important than ever, visit www.fpw.org.
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