Five Star Safety - Fire Safety Week

Fire Safety Week

Generally, fire safety week is at this time in October every year. Why? It's the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 8, 1871. This fire killed 300 people, damaged 17,000 structures and left 100,000 people without homes--all within 27 hours. However, fire safety week wasn't started because of that fire. It wasn't started until 1925, when it was brought to President Calvin Coolidge's attention that fires had killed 15,000 people the year before, that a National Fire Safety Week became a tradition.

Use Fire Safety Week to Your Advantage

Fire safety week is your opportunity to learn more than you ever thought you needed to know about fire safety. The theme of fire safety week this year is candle safety. Follow these fire safety tips involving candles so the next time you light them, you can prevent a fire yourself:

Don't light candles under a shelf
Don't light candles in drafty areas
If you're lighting several candles, make sure they are spaced at least three inches apart
Don't keep lit candles within reach of pets or children
Trim the candle wick to 1/4" before burning candles each time
Only use candleholders that are made to withstand the heat of a candle. (Some glass containers that are not approved as candleholders can break from the candle's heat.)
Don't leave burning candles unattended
Don't fall asleep with candles burning
Try to be in the room where a candle is burning so that you don't forget about it

Fire Safety Week Events Vary

Depending on where you live, fire safety week events will vary. Many fire stations will give tours or have open houses. Some will go to schools to teach fire safety for kids, and some will go to malls or parks and do fire safety seminars or hand out information about fire safety. Contact your local fire station to see what events will happen in your community.