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Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention is a core mission of the Newport Fire Department. Even if a fire produces no injuries or loss of life, the effects can be devastating to a family or business. The best way to put out a fire is to stop it before it begins. A combination of Inspections, Public Education, and Investigations help us to learn from previous fires and eliminate as many risk factors as possible. This year's fire prevention theme — “Fire won't wait. Plan your escape” — emphasizes how we must all prepare fire escape plans, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every month and replace them every 10 years, implement appropriate building codes, and when possible, install residential fire sprinklers

 

Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!

 

You and your family are fast asleep when the smoke alarm sounds: Do you know what to do?

 

Consider this scenario: It’s 2 o’clock in the morning. You and your family are fast asleep when you awaken to the smoke alarm sounding and the smell of smoke. What do you do? If you and your family don’t have a plan in place, it could jeopardize your safety, or even prove deadly.

 

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. That’s why home escape planning is so critical in a fire situation. It ensures that everyone in the household knows how to use that small window of time wisely.

 

Developing and practicing a home escape plan is like building muscle memory. Pre-planning is what everyone will draw upon to snap into action and escape as quickly as possible in the event of a fire.

 

This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” works to better educate the public about the critical importance of developing a home escape plan and practicing it. The City of Newport Fire Department is working in coordination with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of the Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, to reinforce those potentially life-saving messages. Fire Prevention Week is celebrated every year during the week of October 9th.

 

“Home escape planning is one of the most basic but fundamental elements of home fire safety, and can truly make the difference between life and death in a fire situation,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy.

 

In support of Fire Prevention Week, Newport Fire encourages all Newport households to develop a plan together and practice it. A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) that’s a safe distance from the home.

 

NFPA and the Newport Fire Department offer these additional tips and recommendations for developing and practicing a home escape plan:

 

      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.

       

      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.

       

      Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.

       

      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.

 

Fire Prevention Week History

National Fire Safety Prevention Week is observed every year during the week of October 9. Why October 9th you ask? October 9th is the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. This date was designated as a time to reflect on fire prevention measures. The Fire Marshals Association of North America (FMANA) designated the date in 1911 on the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. It was sponsored as a way to keep the public informed of the importance of prevention in fire safety.

When President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week on October 4–10, 1925, he noted that in the previous year some 15,000 lives were lost to fire in the United States. Calling the loss "startling", Coolidge's proclamation stated: "This waste results from the conditions which justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater part of it could and ought to be prevented... It is highly desirable that every effort be made to reform the conditions which have made possible so vast a destruction of the national wealth".

 

Important Fire Prevention and Safety Links

Home Preparation Tips for Weather Emergencies

 https://www.angieslist.com/articles/home-preparation-tips-weather-emergencies.htm

 

Burn, rake or mow? A seasonal question

https://blog.cinfin.com/2014/08/26/burn-rake-or-mow/

 

Fireworks Safety

https://cultureofsafety.thesilverlining.com/safety-tips/fireworks

 

Grilling Safety Tips: Stay Safe at Home This Summer https://www.1800waterdamage.com/blog/2017/april/grilling-safety-tips-stay-safe-at-home-this-summ/

 

Fire Prevention, Preparedness & Recovery https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/fire-prevention-preparedness-and-recovery/

 

Think you know it all when it comes to fire prevention? Take this quiz and test your knowledge.

http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week/fire-prevention-week-quiz

 

Looking for some fast facts regarding fire prevention to share with your friends and family? Check these out.

http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week/fast-facts-about-fire

 

Need some additional resources to take to your classroom for Fire Prevention Week? Here's a look at the classroom material created to keep your students safe.

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Preparedness/Fire-Prevention-Week/Educate