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Activities planned for Fire Prevention Week at Scott

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tristin English
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Fire Prevention Week received its roots from the Great Chicago Fire, which took place Oct. 8, 1871 and continued into Oct. 9 where most of the damage occurred. During the 27 hours the fire blazed and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

The Fire Marshals Association of North America, now part of the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, are responsible for creating Fire Prevention Day. 

The day was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson on the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire.  In 1925, President Harding was the first to officially proclaim National Fire Prevention Week. Every year since, the President of the United States has signed a proclamation observing Fire Prevention Week. 

Tech. Sgt. Steven Short, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron Firefighter Fire Inspector, said, "During this week at Scott we communicate fire preventative maintenance tips with the goal of educating kids and parents what to do to prevent fire."

According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

"We have a lot of events that are geared toward the kids," said Short. "This year we will bring out the fire trailer, smoke it up to let kids and their parents find out what it's like to have a fire in their home and how they should get out. We go to the Base Exchange and the Child development Centers to show the kids the firefighters in their gear so they won't be scared and will know what we [firefighters in uniform] look like."

After nine decades, the NFPA continues to be the international sponsor of Fire Prevention Week, which covers the entire week, including the anniversary date of the Chicago blaze. In 1957, NFPA assigned the first theme for Fire Prevention Week "Don't Give Fire a Place to Start" and has provided a theme every year since.

From Oct. 3-11 the Scott AFB Fire Department will be hosting multiple events for this year's Fire Prevention Week theme, "Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month."

Fire Prevention Week activities
· Oct. 3: WG/CC signs proclamation
· Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Fire safety information trailer, Sparky, Smoky and Sparky's Castle at the Exchange                                                                                                                                        
· Oct. 6, 9-10 a.m.: Family Child Care Program visit at Fire Station 2.
· Oct. 7, 9-10 a.m.: Activity at Child Development Center, Bldg. 1805
· Oct. 7, 3-4:30 p.m.: School Age Program at the Youth Center, Bldg. 4780.
· Oct. 8, 10-11:45 a.m.: Puppet show at the library
· Oct. 9, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Fire safety briefings and puppet show at Scott Elementary
· Oct. 9, 6:30-8 p.m.: Live aircraft firefighting demo
· Oct. 10, 9-10 a.m.: Activity at Child Development Center, Bldg. 807
· Oct. 10, 3-5 p.m.: Fire safety information trailer at the Exchange
· Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Open house at Fire Station No. 2 and children's firefighter challenge and fire engine display at Patriots Landing Community Center.