October is Fire Prevention Month, and next week of October is Fire Prevention Week. The Groton Fire Department’s Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) program uses the month to visit every preschool and kindergarten classroom in town.
At the state level, the fire marshal’s office and the National Fire Protection Association emphasize
Think your home’s safe, and you know how to prevent fires? See how you do on this quiz.
History of Fire Prevention Week
The National Fire Protection Association, headquartered in Quincy, MA is the sponsor of fire prevention week, established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire. The tragic 1871 conflagration 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 through the night and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871. For more information or tools for teachers and firefighters and Sparky’s fun webpage for kids, go to www.firepreventionweek.org.
Groton FD’s SAFE Program Keeps Kids That Way
“We teach the children that ‘Firefighters are your Friend’ by dressing up in our gear, go over how to identify safety hazards in the home, practice ‘Stop, Drop and Roll,’ and learn how to crawl low under smoke,” Groton Fire Lieutenant Susan Daly wrote in a press release. ” The program has been extremely successful in teaching children what to do in case of emergency. Three years ago, the Sweenie triplets from Groton were recognized as “Young Heros.” This prestigious award is sponsored by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and is given to children who have used the lessons they learned in school through the S.A.F.E. Program in real life emergencies. There was a fire in the family’s home and thanks to the girls, their entire family was able to evacuate the home safely.”
The schedule of Groton SAFE events for the month is:
| October 9 | 10:30 | Country Kids |
| 6:45 | Cub Scouts at Florence Roche | |
| October 16 | 10:30 | Florence Roche kindergarten |
| 12:40 | Florence Roche kindergarten | |
| October 18 | 9:00 | Seven Hills |
| October 19 | 10:00 | Country Kids |
| October 22 | 10:00 | Groton Community School |
| 2:00 | Groton Community School | |
| October 23 | 10:00 | Boutwell School |
| 1:00 | Boutwell School | |
| October 25 | 3:15 | Jr. Girl Scouts |
| October 26 | 10:00 | Boutwell School |
| October 29 | 9:30 | Sunshine School |
On Halloween during Trick Or Treat hours, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Groton firefighters and EMTs will be at the Congregational Church on Main Street serving free hot dogs and apple cider.
Plan to “Have Two Ways Out” During Fire Prevention Week
“A good home escape plan starts with working smoke alarms, includes two ways out of every room, a meeting place outside, and is practiced twice a year,” Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said. “These are among the key fire messages firefighters have been sharing with school children through the Student Awareness of Fire Education or S.A.F.E. for the past 18 years. Public fire education has been successful in reducing the number of children who die in fires in Massachusetts; last year no one under 18 died in a building fire which we believe is a first in the state and possibly the nation.”
“Next week is national Fire Prevention Week and the theme is Have Two Ways Out,” Coan said. “The theme underscores how important having and practicing a home escape plan is. Just as children have fire drills at school and learn how to respond, a home fire drill will give them the skills they will rely on in an emergency at home,” he added.
For more information, please go to the Fire Marshal’s web site, www.mass.gov/dfs and click on Fire Prevention Week.
Home Escape Planning Tips
- Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with your family.
- Draw a floor plan of your home, locating all possible exits.
- Keep all possible exits free of obstacles.
- Have two ways out of each room, the main escape route, which should be the fastest and easiest way out of your home, and a second way out like a window.
- Choose one meeting place for your family, usually out front, where you can greet arriving firefighters.
- Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
