Fire Prevention Week
The week of October 8-14, 2023 is Fire Prevention Week. Since 1922, this event has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. It is an opportunity to alert and educate the public on the importance of fire safety and each citizen's role in fire prevention. Originally, it was a one-day event celebrated on October 9, 1911 on the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire by the group known today as the International Fire Marshals Association. It is held to commemorate firefighters and to advance fire prevention awareness. The observance was extended to a week in a proclamation by President Calvin Coolidge in 1922 and is the longest-running public health and safety event on record. Every President of the United States, since 1925, has signed a proclamation declaring a national observance during this week. The National Fire Prevention Association, NFPA, is the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week. The 2023 theme is "Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention." Almost half of home fires involved cooking equipment. The NFPA suggests the following steps for safe cooking at home. Do not leave cooking equipment unattended as it is the leading cause of home fire injuries and deaths. Clear the cooking area of combustible items, dish towels, oven mitts, paper towels, food packaging or anything that could bum. Tum pot handles toward the back of the stove. In case of a grease fire, keep a pot lid nearby to cover the pan or use salt or baking soda to extinguish the flame. Never pour water onto a grease fire and be sure to turn off the heat. Provide a three-foot "kid and pet free zone" around the stove or any place hot food or beverages are prepared. Avoid falling asleep while cooking. Install a smoke alarm and routinely check the batteries to be sure it is working properly. Plan an escape route that has two ways out in the event of a fire.
In conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, Orange Fire Marshal James Vincent has announced that the 2023 Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest, a statewide competition for fourth and fifth graders has begun. The contest is a cooperative effort of elementary school teachers and the sponsors: Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, Office of The State Fire Marshal, Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, Connecticut Board of Education, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, and Connecticut FAIR Plan (which represents the insurance industry). The theme is "FIRE PREVENTION- EVERYONE/EVERYDAY". A winning poster will be chosen from each county and that student will receive a cash award of $150.00. Posters will be exhibited in locations throughout Connecticut, including the State Capitol. From these, one poster will be chosen to be reproduced and distributed as Connecticut's 2023 Fire Prevention Poster. The statewide winner will be awarded an additional $750.00 and his or her school will receive
$500.00. A luncheon, where the state winner is announced, will be held for county winners, parents, teachers, principals, local fire marshals and other guests. Fire safety education is important as a means of preventing injuries, death and economic loss. The contest brings awareness to children, who are a valuable link in the chain of communication, by taking information home to the family and suggesting ways to reduce damage and prevent fires. The Orange Fire Marshal's Office would like to thank the students, administrators, and teachers from the Peck Place, Race Brook, and Turkey Hill schools for their support and participation.
If you have questions regarding fire safety, please contact The Orange Fire Marshal's Office at (203) 891-4711, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM or visit the website at www.orangefiremarshal.com.
