The Thanksgiving long weekend marks the beginning of Fire Prevention Week in Canada. In St. Albert, the campaign, sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association, kicked off at Fire Hall No. 1 located on Gate Avenue.
To bring the fire safety message home, the newly built firehall hosted a public event this past Saturday. Children wearing plastic red fire hats distributed by firefighters were hoisted in the massive shiny trucks while parents picked up safety tips and patiently stood in line for barbecued hot dogs. But underneath the laughter and camaraderie was a serious message.
The theme for 2022 is, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.” This year’s campaign, which runs October 9-15, focuses on the importance of preparing a safety plan to evacuate everyone in the home in case of fire.
In today's world, construction materials manufactured to build houses burn faster than ever, and individuals generally have two to three minutes to escape from a burning building.
“It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape,” said Michael Bos, Fire Prevention Officer with St. Albert Fire Services. “Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds.”
“Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will be different. Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults and people with disabilities may need assistance ... Make sure everyone knows the plan and that someone is prepared to help them,” Bos said.
He added that fire hazards change with every season. During the fall and winter, the number one cause is kitchen fires followed by smoking outside and extinguishing cigarettes in potted plants.
Most kitchen fires occur when pans filled with grease are left unattended or a flammable material is left too close to a burner.
“Most kitchen fires are preventable,” Bos said.
As for snuffing out cigarettes in outdoor planters, he explains vegetation decomposes into organic material which can ignite long after a smoker extinguishes their cigarette.
Candles inadvertently left alone, incense sticks improperly disposed of, and the incorrect discarding of ashes have also been known to ignite fires.
“There’s also the misuse of electrical cords. People run electrical cords under their rugs and over time the cords get frayed with people stepping on them. Make sure cords are placed properly and have proper equipment.”
To avert tragedy, Bos suggests organizing a plan to safely exit from the house and testing all smoke alarms to make sure they are working.
“Assess your house’s exits. Make sure you have two ways out of every room – a window and a door. If there is someone in the house with disabilities, make sure they understand the plan. And make sure you know what the smoke alarm sounds like. Since you only have three minutes to get out of the house, windows are a last resort. And that’s why it’s so important to have windows working.”
Families are also encouraged to locate an outside meeting spot, or a muster point, a safe distance from the house. Practice drills twice a year are encouraged for everyone in the house.
