So what is Fire Prevention Week? The history of FPW has it roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8 but continued into and did the most damage on October 9, 1871. In just 27 hours, this tragic fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,000 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The cause of the fire has never been confirmed. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, National Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday-through-Saturday period in which October 9 falls. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation pronouncing a national observance during that week every year since 1925.Our annual open house adopts the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) theme for our ideas.

Fire Prevention Week has been sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for many years and is proclaimed by the President of the United States each year. The longest running safety commemoration is the premier fire safety program of the fire service, drawing the participation of Fire District 7 and other fire departments in the U.S. and Canada.

NFPA selects the Fire Prevention Week theme in order to highlight a growing concern.

Personnel from our department present this message in many forms during the open house from informational handouts to live puppet shows. Over the years at this event we have been presented with stuffed animals to distribute to children in crisis situations, photo album memoirs of calls we responded to from the victims families, smoke detectors to install in homes that do not have them and even cash donations which were used to purchase items such as cardiac shock equipment, thermal imagers (for helping find victims in fire situations) and jaws of life equipment. It is heartwarming to know we have this kind of support from the citizens of this area.

Fire District 7 residents are urged to ensure that smoke alarms are installed on every level of the home and kept working with monthly testing and annual battery replacement. All smoke alarms should be replaced with a new unit after 10 years. Each member of the household needs to know the fire escape plan, and all should practice it twice a year. Fire District 7 residents can learn more about candle safety and all forms of fire prevention by visiting NFPA's official Fire Prevention Week Web site: www.firepreventionweek.org .