As Fire Prevention Week approaches, Big Lakes County Fire Services reminds residents that, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.”

From October 9-15, 2022, Big Lakes County Fire Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week (FPW). This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape,” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires. 

“Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning,” said Lorraine Carli, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA.

Big Lakes County Fire Services encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme. “It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different,” said Luci Martinson, Big Lakes County Deputy Fire Chief. “Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!”

Big Lakes County Fire Services wants to share these key home fire escape planning tips:

  • Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
  • Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
  • Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
  • Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
  • Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

Big Lakes County Fire Services is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, including:

  • Joussard Fire District: BBQ, Tuesday October 11, 2022, from 5pm-8pm at Joussard Fire Hall
  • Faust Fire District: BBQ, Saturday October 15, 2022, from 4pm-7pm at Faust Fire Hall
  • Big Lakes County coloring contest posted online on Big Lakes County website or Big Lakes County Facebook page. One prize per grade for kindergarten to Grade 6

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Big Lakes County, please visit our website, the Big Lakes County Facebook page or contact Deputy Fire Chief Luci Martinson at 780-523-5955 or by email at [email protected]. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention in general, visit fpw.org and sparky.org.

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Contact: Victoria Zahacy, Communications Coordinator, [email protected] or (780) 523 5955

Download the coloring photo contest pictures below. Prizes for grade K-3 are a Sparky stuffy and a fire helmet. Prizes for grades 4-6 are Lego sets. Prizes will be announced the week after Fire Prevention Week. Please submit your coloring pages into the County Office by Monday October 17, 2022.

 

Open House and BBQ Flyers

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