Fire Prevention Week - October 4-10, 2020
BY JOAN JANZEN
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Fire Prevention Week is October 4th - 10th and the theme for 2020 is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen”. Fire Prevention Week started in 1925 in Canada and remains a critical public education tool. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the theme for Fire Prevention Week. This is a global non-profit organization which was established in 1896, and is devoted to eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards.
Mitch Hope, Public Education Officer for Kindersley Fire Department, said this year the focus is on “serving up kitchen safety”, which will include safety tips such as: “Keep your cooking area clutter free. Move anything that can burn at least 3 feet (1 metre) away from the stove top.” The simplest and safest way to contain or extinguish a stove top or oven fire is to remove the oxygen by closing the oven door or putting a lid on the pot.
Traditionally, during Fire Prevention Week, members from the local fire department visit students in the elementary school and teach basic fire safety, focussing on escape plans, meeting places, knowing a safe neighbour to go to in case of an emergency, as well as an extensive list of fire safety rules. They also emphasize the importance of staying calm in an emergency.
As for the young children ages 3-4 years, Mitch explained they try to make them comfortable with firefighters and their gear, so children won’t be afraid of them in an emergency. Fire hall tours have also been popular in previous years, but of course, all of these activities are subject to health regulations in 2020.
During this year’s Fire Prevention Week, Kindersley fire fighters are enjoying being in their new facilities at the new fire hall. The fire department’s newest member, Cassidie Erikson joined the fire department right about the time they were moving into the new fire hall. “A lot of the guys are saying there’s so much more room and it’s way nicer,” Cassidie said.
Although students won’t be able to tour the new facility at this time, there are online resources on the topic of fire prevention and safety that can be accessed, not only during Fire Prevention Week but all year long.
