“Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere,” is this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week, a campaign to educate the public on basic, but essential, ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire.
While the number of home fires in the U.S. has been declining, the death rate per 1,000 home fires was 10 percent higher in 2016 than in 1980, according to data cited by Fire Prevention Week sponsors, the National Fire Protection Association.
“Working in the fire service for many years, we know that people often make choices in fire situations that jeopardize their safety or even cost them their lives,” said Tim Diehl, Rockville’s fire marshal. “We need to do a better job of teaching people about the potentially life-saving difference escape planning and practice can make, and motivating them to action.”
This year’s “Look. Listen. Learn.” campaign highlights three steps to help quickly and safely escape a fire:
- Look for places fire could start.
- Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm.
- Learn two ways out of every room.
“Situational awareness is a skill people need to use wherever they go,” Diehl said. “No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately.”
For more information about home escape planning and Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 7-13, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.