Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 9th to Oct. 15th, and like fire departments across Canada, Red Deer Emergency Services aims to make citizens more aware of fire prevention practices during this week.
Fire Prevention Week is North America’s longest running public health and safety campaign on record, and has focused on many different safety messages over the years. The theme of this year’s campaign, ‘Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years’, is an important safety reminder for residents, officials say.
“Having working smoke alarms in your home reduces the risk of dying in a fire in half,” said Shane Dussault, fire prevention officer. “As with all electronic devices, smoke alarms wear out, and are designed to have a 10 year life.”
Fire Prevention Week was established to remember the destructive Chicago fire on Oct. 9th, 1871 that killed more than 250 people and left 100,000 homeless. Fire Prevention Week was officially proclaimed in Canada in 1919 to commemorate the Chicago blaze, as well as the major fire that destroyed the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa on Feb. 3rd, 1916.
– Fawcett
