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Fire Prevention Week - Smoke Alarm Safety
About Fire Prevention Week
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871. Since 1922, Fire Prevention week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9th falls.
This year's Fire Prevention Week Campaign, "Don't Wait - Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years," represents the final of a three-year effort to educate the public about basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety.
The NFPA's (National Fire Protection Association) data shows that the public has many misconceptions about smoke alarms, which may put them at increased risk in the event of a home fire. For example, only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced.
As a result of these findings, NFPA is addressing smoke alarm replacement this year with a focus on these key messages:
- Smoke alarms should be REPLACED every 10 years
- Make sure you know how old ALL the smoke alarms are in your home
- To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.
Click here for more answers to some frequently asked questions about replacing your smoke alarms.
