The Bellefontaine Fire Department is teaming up with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.”
This year’s campaign, which takes place this week Oct. 9-15, works to educate individuals about simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
“Today’s homes burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape from the time the smoke alarm sounds.
Your ability to get out depends on early warning from working smoke alarms and advance planning,” said Lorraine Carli, National Fire Protection Association vice president of the Outreach and Advocacy division.
Local State Farm agent Bob Palenshus encourages all residents to actively support this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign by developing and practicing a home escape plan with all members of their household.
Palenshus recently donated a Fire Prevention Week kit to the fire department, which includes activities and information for children and adults, providing age-appropriate messages about home fire safety and prevention.
“Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Fire presents real risk to all of us, making it important for every member of the community to take these messages seriously and put them into action,” said Palenshus. “Keeping people safe is a large part of the State Farm heritage and who we are today.”
Fire safety tips encouraged by State Farm and the NFPA include:
• Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
• Consulting with your local fire department on an appropriate fire extinguisher for your home can help protect your family in the event of a fire.
• Protect your home against common causes of house fires.
For more information, visit www.fpw.org.