This is the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week and Mission Fire Rescue Service is honouring it by spreading messages that will save your life.
Fire Prevention Week takes places from Oct. 9-15 with a message of “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.”
“Today’s homes burn faster than ever,” said fire inspector Nathan Unger. “You may have as little as two minutes – or even less – 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.”
On Oct. 2. from noon to 4 p.m., Mission Fire Rescue Service will be hosting the Fire Safety Grand Tour.
This will be a themed event with fun, interactive stops along the way for participants to have their tour “passport” stamped and interact with organizations and city departments to learn about fire awareness and personal preparedness. Each stop will have safety information and educational displays. Participants will be encouraged to start at the spot that is most convenient for them, and to tour as many stops as they feel fit.
A passport will be available that contains a map and spots for stamps from each location. Participants completing the entire tour, by getting their passport stamped at each location, will be eligible to enter a prize draw for a Nintendo Switch.
A bus tour that will begin and end at Fire Station 1 (33330 - 7th Ave.) will depart Station 1 at 12:45 p.m., returning at approximately 4 p.m. Space is limited, and children must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
To find out more about the tour, contact Mission Fire Rescue Service at 604-820-3793.
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Mission firefighters also shared these key home fire escape planning tips:
• Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your household 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.
• Practise your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practise at least once during the day and at night.
“It’s important for everyone to plan and practise 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 Ian Glasgow, assistant chief of fire prevention. “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.”
@shinebox44
chris.campbell@missioncityrecord.com
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