Pelham Fire Department

Fire Prevention Week

About Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This fire (rumoured to have started when a cow knocked over an oil lamp in the stable) burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871. Hundreds of people were killed and about four square miles in Chicago, Illinois were destroyed.

Each year the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) develops a new message that fire and life safety educators bring across to their communities. In the Town of Pelham, each of the three fire stations will host activities, to which the general public is invited. Check the Town of Pelham Calendar for upcoming activites and where they are located.

The theme for the 2012 Fire Prevention Week is Have 2 Ways Out.  The reality is that when fire strikes, your home could be engulfed in smoke and flames in just a few minutes.  It is important to have a home fire escape plan that prepares your family to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm sounds. What if your first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames? That's why having two ways out is such a key part of your plan.

Fire Prevention Week 2012 is from October 7-13.