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The history of Fire Prevention Week

This year’s Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 4th to 10th, and the theme is “Serve up fire safety in the kitchen.”
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This year’s Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 4 to 10, and the theme is “Serve up fire safety in the kitchen.”

Canadian fire departments respond to over 25,000 structure fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

In 2015, structure fires caused more than 1,400 injuries and almost 200 deaths.

“These numbers show that home fires continue to pose a significant threat to safety,” said Lorraine Carlie, NFPA’s vice president in a release.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of Oct. 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8th, 1871, and caused devastating damage and killed more than 250 people, and left another 100,000 people homeless.

The horrific conflagration destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

Since 1922, the NFPA has sponsored public events for Fire Prevention Week.

It was first declared a week for public observance in 1925 by then NFPA president Calvin Coolidge.

During Fire Prevention Week members of the public, including children, adults and teachers, learn how to stay safe in case of a fire.

During the week, firefighters traditionally provide lifesaving public education in an effort to decrease casualties caused by fire, although open houses and other activities have been cancelled in many communities in 2020 due to COVID-19.

-Submitted