Fire Prevention Week

October 4 through 10 is Fire Prevention week. The annual event was established to mark the anniversary of the "Great Chicago Fire" that occurred in 1871. This year, Fire Prevention Week focuses on burn awareness and prevention. Of course, the week continues to focus on keeping homes safe from the leading causes of fires. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2008 public fire departments responded to more than 386,500 home fires. Or to put it other terms, a fire department responded to a home fire every 81 seconds.

Cooking continues to be the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. During Fire Prevention Week, safety advocates will educate communities, explaining that with a little extra caution they have the ability to prevent the leading causes of home fires that include cooking, heating, electrical and smoking materials.

The San Antonio Fire Department will try to stress this message not just a week, but for the entire month of October. As part of this fire prevention celebration, they will hold their annual Health and Safety Fair from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 24 at Crossroads Mall. The event is free and will be filled with activities for the entire family including a poster contest that will take place at noon on that day.

For more information on fire prevention and safety tips for your family, visit www.nfpa.org

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