Practice your home fire escape plan during Fire Prevention Week

St. Marys Department to hold interactive open house October 11

The Town of St. Marys Fire Department is urging families to practice their home fire escape plan as part of Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme of Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 8 to 14, 2017, is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”.

“Fire and smoke move faster than you,” said St. Marys Fire Chief Richard Anderson. “There’s no time to figure out how to escape your home after a fire starts. Practice an escape plan before there’s a fire so you can get out safely.”

In support of Fire Prevention Week and this year’s campaign, the St. Marys Fire Department is hosting an open house at the Fire Hall (172 James Street South) on Wednesday, October 11 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. This year the event will include a number of interactive activities in addition to regular fire prevention information materials. Children will enjoy exploring the fire safety trailer, where they will be encouraged to look for a variety of fire safety dangers. There will be fire extinguisher demonstrations, a fire rescue equipment display, door prizes and a live auto extrication demonstration at 7:00 p.m.

For more information, contact the Fire Chief at randerson@town.stmarys.on.ca or 519-284-1752.

Home escape planning tips

In a fire, you may have just seconds to safely escape your home. Be prepared in advance with these simple steps for home fire escape planning:

• Assess the needs of everyone in your home
• Identify anyone who requires assistance to get out of the home safely, such as small children or older adults
• Make sure that you have working smoke alarms on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas
• Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm
• Identify all possible exits (doors and windows) and make sure they work
• Know two ways out of all areas, if possible
• Everyone must know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds
• Assign someone to help those who need assistance
• Identify a safe meeting place outside
• Call the fire department from outside the home – from a neighbour’s home or a cell phone
• Practice your home fire escape plan at least twice a year
• Have everyone participate
• Make changes to your plan if necessary

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Contact

Stacey Wheal | Corporate Communications Specialist
519-284-2340, ext. 429 | swheal@town.stmarys.on.ca