Forsyth County, North Carolina

By Todd Luck
Posted Monday, October 7, 2019

Fire Prevention Week encourages escape planning

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12 and this year’s theme encourages everyone to make an escape plan in case of a home fire.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” In a typical home fire you may have as little as one to two minutes to safely escape by the time the smoke alarm goes off.

“Please take the time to plan your escape, practice your escape and test your smoke detectors, your life may depend upon it one day,” said Forsyth County Fire Marshall Gary Styers.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests:

Map out paths to two exits to the outside, usually a door or window, from every room in your home.

Pick a place outside in front of your home for everyone to meet up. This needs to be a place that doesn’t move, like a tree or mailbox, not a car or bike.

Post your escape plan somewhere in your home where everyone can see, and practice it twice a year.

Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure the batteries are still good.

Residents who live inside Forsyth County but outside of Winston-Salem can contact the Forsyth County Fire Department for free smoke detectors and installation by calling 336-703-2550. Your local Fire Department will contact you to make an installation appointment.

The NFPA has sponsored Fire Prevention Week since 1922. It was first observed nationally in 1925, making it the longest running public health observance in the country. It is held on the week of October 9th to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871. The fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 174,000 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

For more information, visit www.nfpa.org.