Wednesday, October 12, 2022 – The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA) shares “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape™” as the theme for Fire Prevention WeekTM, which takes place October 9-15. This theme reinforces the critical importance of developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly. In addition, this October represents the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, the nation’s longest-running public health observance on record.
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign capitalizes on its milestone anniversary, celebrating all we’ve accomplished in reducing the public’s risk to fire over the past hundred years,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of the NFPA Outreach and Advocacy division. “At the same time, the theme, ‘Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape,’ addresses challenges that remain.”
Key Messages
- 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.
- Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.
Children Invited to Participate
The annual Fire Prevention Week contest is open to all students from kindergarten to grade 12 who are attending an Indigenous, public or independent school in British Columbia.
To enter, each student should do the following:
- Complete a home fire escape plan by following the instructions. Talk to the people you live with about what you’ve learned and how everyone can stay safe from fire and escape quickly should one happen in your home.
- Fill out the entry form (PDF) and send it to the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund no later than November 4, 2022.
- Only one entry per student.
- Entries will be divided into the grade indicated on the entry form, so be sure to complete it accurately.
By mail:
BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund
3891 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
V5V 3P1
By email:
FirePreventionWeek@BurnFund.org
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, its 100th anniversary, and this year’s theme, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape,” visit www.nfpa.org/fpw.
Locally, Sooke Fire Rescue will also be visiting elementary schools during recess and lunch times to help highlight Fire Prevention Week.
About the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)
Founded in 1896, NFPA® is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach, and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.