Fire Prevention Week

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Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Anacortes Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

“In a fire, seconds count,” said Fire Chief Richard Curtis. “Halfof home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.”

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. 
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
• Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.
• If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
• Call the fire department from outside the home.

The Fire Department will be hosting their annual Open House on Saturday, October 10th from 9am-Noon at Fire Station #1 at 1016 13th Street, to promote “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” and other safety topics.  Residents can meet their fire fighters, get an up close look at the department’s apparatus and equipment, and even ride in a fire engine.  The department will provide a public demonstration of vehicle extrication techniques and tools.

For  more information on the Fire Department Open House, check out the Anacortes Fire Department Facebook page or www.cityofanacortes.org under Anacortes City News. To learn more about smoke alarms and “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org and www.sparky.org/fpw.