Fire Prevention Week
VFW

Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12

This year’s theme — “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you”

  • Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 through 12 and this year’s theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you”. The week focuses on educating people about having workable smoke alarms in the home. Seated and signing the proclamation is Hallettsville mayor Alice Summers with Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department chief Stephen Grahmann present for the signing. Photo by Jimmy Appelt
    Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 through 12 and this year’s theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you”. The week focuses on educating people about having workable smoke alarms in the home. Seated and signing the proclamation is Hallettsville mayor Alice Summers with Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department chief Stephen Grahmann present for the signing. Photo by Jimmy Appelt

    Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12 and this year’s theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you”.

    The Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in promoting the week.

    According to the NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54%). Meanwhile, roughly three out of five deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that do not work.

    “Smoke alarms serve as the first line of defense in a home fire, but they need to be working in order to protect people,” vice-president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA, Lorraine Carli said. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign helps better educate the public about simple, but critical steps they can take to make sure their homes have smoke alarms in all the needed locations, and that they are working properly.”

    In a newly published Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) survey conducted in coordination with the Fire Prevention Protection Research Foundation, affiliated with the NFPA and the National Institute for Safety and Technology (NIST), it found that nearly all U.S. households (99%) have at least one fire alarm.

    However, more than half of the households (61%) test their smoke alarms less frequently than recommended and 33% said they never tested their alarms.

    Also, the survey showed that many households have inaccurate perceptions about the age, functionality, and maintenance requirements of their smoke alarms.

    “People tend to be overconfident about their risk to fire, which often leads to a sense of complacency that compromises safety,” Carli said. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to better educate people about their true risk to fire and the steps needed to make sure they’re adequately protected in the event of one.”

    The NFPA offers key smoke alarm tips and guidelines including:

    • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.

    • Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

    • Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.

    • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

    “The Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department encourages all residents to actively support the 2024 FPW theme, that include ‘Smoke alarms: Make them work for you’,” HVFD fire chief Stephen Grahmann said. “Working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, giving people the time to get out safely. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign is a great way to remind everyone about these messages and to act on them.”