FORT LEE, Va. – Fire and Emerency Services here will team up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9-15.
With a campaign theme “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape,” the FPW goal is to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.
“Today’s homes burn faster than ever,” cautioned Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “You may have as little as two minutes [or even less] to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance escape planning.”
Phil Wilkinson, Fort Lee fire chief, encourages every community member – and military family housing residents in particular – to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme.
“It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape,” he said. “Everyone needs to be prepared in advance so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, escape plans also will be different. Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!”
Fort Lee Fire and Emergency Services offers the following additional escape planning tips:
· Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a 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 at a safe distance from your home.
· Practice a home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Do at least one run-through at night.
The Fort Lee Fire Department will conduct a series of events throughout the coming week to spread the FPW message. These are in addition to a proclamation signing with the garrison commander and CSM that took place Sept. 26 in the Multipurpose Child Development Center Gym. The upcoming activities are as follows:
· Fire Engine Tour, Oct. 11, 9-10:30 a.m., CDC-Yorktown (Bldg. 10610)
· Fire Safety Display, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Main PX (Bldg. 1605)
· Fire Engine Tour, Oct. 12, 9-10:30 a.m., CDC-Battle (Bldg. 10620)
· Fire Safety Display, Oct. 12, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., TenStrike Bowling Center (Bldg. 8016)
· Fire Engine Tour, Oct.13, 9-10:30 a.m., CDC-Sisisky (Bldg. 10624)
· Fire Safety Display, Oct. 13, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., PXtra (Bldg. 9025)
· Fire Safety Display, Oct. 14, 9-11 a.m., Fort Lee Commissary (Bldg. 1600)
· Emergency Services Career Display, Oct. 17, 5-5:45 p.m., CYS School Age Center (Bldg. 10605)
For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire safety, visit fpw.org or sparky.org. Those with questions for the Fort Lee Fire Department can call 804-734-6597.
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