On October 4-10, 2009 Fire Prevention Week took place as fire departments across the country went to elementary schools to teach children and their parents about fire safety and what they can do to help prevent fires.

After the great Chicago fire on October 9, 1871, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (FMANA) sponsored the first National Fire Prevention Day on October 9, 1911. Then in 1920 President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation. In 1925 president Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week, which was on October 4th-10th. Fire Prevention Week is always the week that falls on October 9th.

This year the theme for Fire Prevention Week was “STAY FIRE SMART! DON’T GET BURNED!” This year the focus for Fire Prevention Week was teaching children about burn awareness as well as keeping the home safe from fires.

In 2008 there were 1.4 million house fires in the U.S. killing 3,320 civilians and 103 firefighters. In 2008, in Alaska, there were 19 house fire related deaths, 3 of which were children. In the U.S. two-thirds of house fire-related deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms and 55% of Alaska fire fatalities occurred in homes without smoke alarms or non-operating smoke alarms.

by Molly Stoltman - 9th Grade