Did you ever want to be a hero? Fire Prevention Week is your chance! This year’s theme is: “Not every hero wears a cape – plan and practice your home escape!”
If a fire ever broke out in your home, you and your loved ones may have as little as two minutes to get out from the time the smoke alarm sounds. At that point, it’s too late to make an escape plan — so take the time to do it now! You should know two ways out of each room. And be sure to include your pets in your plan!
There are other simple ways to practice fire safety. One of the most important things you can do is close your bedroom door at night — because it could save your life. During a fire, closed doors lessen the impact of toxic smoke and heat; it can be about 900 degrees cooler behind a closed door. So don’t forget to “Close Before You Doze.”
Also, be sure to check your smoke alarms. If they are more than 10 years old — or if you don’t have them — please call 311 or put in a request online. The Fire Department will come and install them for free.
Fire Prevention Week runs from October 6-12, 2019. The annual national observance is pegged to the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed about 300 people and destroyed more than 17,000 buildings.
The Philadelphia Fire Department has several events planned:
Fire Prevention Week Events
PECO Crown Lights
Monday, Oct. 7; Wednesday, Oct. 9; Thursday, Oct. 10
23rd & Market streets
Take a peek at the PECO Crown Lights atop the company’s building on these days after 5 p.m. You should see our message: “It’s Fire Prevention Week! What’s your home escape plan? phila.gov/fire.”
SEPTA Fire Prevention Posters
Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 10 a.m.
Ladder 2 / Medic 44 / Battalion 4, 4th & Arch Streets
Fire Department and SEPTA officials — plus mascots Gentry and Paws! — will join students from the Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic School’s Junior Fire Patrol to place the first of 2,000 fire prevention posters on a SEPTA bus. It’s the 20th anniversary of this important public safety program!
Fire Prevention Week Proclamation
Tuesday, Oct. 9 | 9 a.m.
Fireman’s Hall Museum, 147 N. 2nd St.
Fire Department officials will read an official city proclamation declaring it to be Fire Prevention Week in Philadelphia.
Citywide Fire Drill
Thursday, Oct. 10 | 6 p.m.
5800 block of Woodbine Ave.
The Fire Department will conduct a drill at 6 p.m. at the home of Fire Lt. Ronald Monroe, whose family will use their practiced home escape plan to evacuate the house while Engine 54 and Ladder 24 engage in a simulated response to the “fire.” At 7:30 p.m., fire apparatus sirens throughout the city will sound to indicate the start of the citywide fire drill. All Philadelphians are urged to participate by testing their home escape plans — residents should know two ways out of their home in case of an emergency.
