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Fire Prevention Week

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Date: Oct 04 , 2022
Category: News & Announcements

Join the Solana Beach Fire Department in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week (FPW). This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape," works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.

As further discussed below, today’s homes can burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.

 

About Fire Prevention Week

Since 1922, the NFPA has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.
 

Importance of Fire Prevention

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

Newer homes can burn faster and become more dangerous when they catch fire. A few decades ago, you had on average of about 14 to 17 minutes to escape a house fire. Due to the design and materials used in the construction of today’s homes, they can burn faster than homes 30 years ago. Why? A big reason is there are more synthetic materials used in homes today.

Modern furniture is made primarily of synthetic materials and engineered lumber; synthetic materials (polyurethane) burn faster and hotter than natural materials (cotton, hemp) while releasing deadly toxins. Modern light-weight construction utilizes “engineered lumber” which contains petroleum-based glues, this lumber is used for siding, sheathing roofing and framing and has reduced dimensions compared to traditional natural materials used in the past. The composition of these new materials allows them to burn more readily. Additionally, open floor plans and higher ceilings have become quite popular and allow more air movement within the structure which increases fire and smoke advancement.

However, it’s not all bad news for 21st-century homes; even though they can burn faster, they’re actually less likely to burn in the first place. Due to increased fire safety education, advancing fire codes, improved wiring, and lower smoking rates, residential structure fires have become less common.

Homeowners should keep these points in mind to remain prepared in case of fires:

  • Getting out of the home safely and quickly is the highest priority
  • It is important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape; given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different
  • Be prepared in advance and know what to do when a smoke alarm sounds
  • Have a plan for everyone in the home:  children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!

Here’s more fire safety information you can use:

Solana Beach Fire Department Open House

The Solana Beach Fire Department will also be hosting their annual Open House on Saturday, October 15th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Come on over to the Solana Beach Fire Station located at 500 Lomas Santa Fe Drive and see where the City's Firefighters work and live.

They have a fun day planned with live music, food, fire apparatus, a haunted Halloween ambulance, sidewalk CPR and more. You can even get a guided tour through the fire station by one of our Firefighters. This is a family-friendly event so come on over and enjoy the fun!