|
For Immediate Release
October 3 – 9 is Fire Prevention Week in Redwood City & Throughout the Nation
Redwood City, CA - September 28, 2004 - The week of October 3 through October 9, 2004 is National Fire Prevention Week, and Redwood City is urging the community to take simple fire prevention steps that could save their lives and those of their loved ones. The Fire Prevention Week 2004 theme is “Test Your Smoke Alarms,” and it’s the perfect opportunity to ensure that our families and homes are protected and safe.
Smoke alarms are the great safety success story of the 20th century — but only when they're working properly. Approximately 70 percent of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms - or no working smoke alarms. That’s what makes this year’s theme so important – testing smoke alarms can save lives!
A great deal of information on home fire safety is available from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website, located at www.nfpa.org. Here, you’ll find guidelines for installing and maintaining smoke alarms, basic fire escape planning, tips for people living in apartment buildings, tips for older adults, and more. Additional information on the use of smoke detectors in the home, and other fire-safety tips, can be found online at www.usfa.fema.gov/public/hfs/alarms.shtm
The Redwood City Fire Department (RCFD) reminds the community that cooking, heating, and electrical fires represent three of the nation’s leading causes of home fires, and are collectively responsible for nearly half of all home fires and almost one-third of the associated fire deaths. Most of these fires could have been prevented by taking a few simple fire prevention steps in the home, such as developing a home fire escape plan and practicing it at least twice a year, proper installation, testing, and maintenance of smoke alarms throughout the home, using extra caution when cooking, especially with oils that can quickly ignite, never using any type of open flame heater in the home, and inspecting home electrical wiring and immediately repairing any deteriorating wiring.
More information on how to make your home “fire-safe” can be obtained by contacting the RCFD at 650-780-7400 (www.redwoodcity.org/fire). The Redwood City Fire Department has five fire stations housing five engines and one truck, and currently has over 70 staff members including firefighters, firefighter/paramedics, captains and battalion chiefs, fire prevention staff, training staff, and administrative staff.
Visit Redwood City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, City government, and local business.
###
Contact:
Louis J. Vella
Administrative Chief/Fire Marshal
Redwood City Fire Department
650-780-7400
|
