by Michael O'Brian on October 3, 2010
Smoke Alarms A Sound You Can Live with October 3-9 2010
This year’s campaign is designed to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourages everyone to take the steps necessary to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection. As many of us know Fire Prevention week was started after many large fires which devastated the United States such as the Great Chicago Fire or the Great Thumb Forest Fire.
Fire Prevention Week is a great way for the fire prevention community to bring a heightened awareness to the public we serve. Many of you had open houses which showcase the department’s fire prevention efforts or have participated with corporate partners at Lowes or Home Depot.
In fact it [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on October 4, 2009
Stay Fire Smart Don’t Get Burned
Its Fire Prevention Week 2009 and many of you are busy with department open houses, public awareness, or education events. The National Fire Prevention Association has many resources available to you to help make the week successful. Its important to remember that this week is not limited to fire code officials and it takes all of us to make a difference.
All inspectors play a key role in helping raise awareness on fire prevention after all thats why we have building and fire codes. Its all about life safety
Some Easy Steps to Make This Week Successful for Inspectors
We know that many of you have busy scheduled and did not schedule events for this week. Thanks okay there is always next year, although here are some quick things you can do today or Monday morning:
by Michael O'Brian on October 6, 2008
Was it the Cow?
In 1871 a great fire consumed the City of Chicago and served as a catalyst for fire prevention week. The bulk of the damage was consumed by the fire on October 9, 1871 and was one of three major fires (Peshtigo Fire and the Great Thumb Fire) that week. The story is typically told about Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who tipped over a lantern and caused the start of the fire. Recently historians have worked to debunk the ethics of Mrs. O’Lery’s milking cows and may lead to careless smoking near the barn or a fiery meteorite which started the Peshtigo fire as well.
Details of the Chicago Fire included
- 250 Died
- 100,000 were left homeless
- 2,000 acres burned
- 17,400 structures were destroyed by fire
Regardless of how the fire started, the event triggered many events that have focus on public education on fires. 40 years after that fiery day, the International Fire Marshal’s Association (Approximately 1910) pushed to have the week set aside as fire prevention day. This included [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on September 17, 2008
A special post from Tom Kiurski
If you work for a fire department that has an existing open house that is held in conjunction with Fire 
Prevention Week (the most common time to have the Open House, although you can have one at any time), then consider yourself lucky. Much of the groundwork necessary to undertake this monumental task has already been laid. Your role is to take part in the Open House by helping out before the event, working the event itself and helping out afterwards. Let’s take a look at the stops involved, to see if you can start your event or make it better.
You probably wouldn’t wake up one morning and head out the door on a vacation without some advance planning. Where to go, reservations and packing are all essential parts of the process. The Open House is no different…without planning, your chances of having a successful, smooth-running event are quite slim. Start well in advance, preferably a full year ahead of time. Get the fire department administration and the firefighters to help out. If your firefighters are anywhere near as crafty as ours are, then you will have some great talent to help you out. Break down the work into smaller parts, such as publicity, props and partnerships.
The publicity group needs to be involved in scheduling the event and doing any advertising to get crowds to attend your event. Flyers are a [click to continue…]
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