Fire Safety Month

Last updated: October 5th, 2022

Is your home fireproof? What about where you work? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) observes National Fire Safety Month every October to raise awareness about fire safety and ensure that you and your family are protected. The second week of October was deemed Fire Prevention Week (FPW) by the NFPA back in 1922. Ever since, the month of October has been celebrated by conducting activities across communities to educate each other and raise awareness. This year is the 100th anniversary of FPW, falling on October 9th - 15th.

This year's FPW campaign: "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape."

Did You Know?

• Local fire departments responded to 1,338,500 fires in 2020.
• Every 23 seconds, a fire department in the United States responds to a fire somewhere in the nation. 
• A home fire occurs every 89 seconds. 
• 74% of all fire deaths were caused by home fires. 

Top Fire Causes

Fire safety education is not just for children. Fires can affect any and everyone. Once a fire ignites, just a few seconds can be the difference between escaping safely and a tragedy. That is why fire prevention is critical. 

Get Prepared Today:

• Plan Your Escape Route 
  • Draw out a map of your home and come up with a few routes to escape in a fire.
  • Review these routes often with your household.
• Set a Safe Meeting Place Outside
  • Pick a place to meet that is a safe distance from your house.
• Test Your Smoke Alarms Regularly
  • Set a Reminder
• Practice a Home Fire Drill 
  • Run through what you would do if I fire broke out: how would you escape, where would you meet, etc. 
• Keep Your Fire Department’s Phone Number Handy
  • Post the number on your fridge and keep it on the notes app in your phone.

For resources or more information, visit the National Fire Protection Association.