Beginning Oct. 9, 2022, the Arlington County Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to celebrate 100 years of Fire Prevention Week (FPW). This year’s FPW campaign – "Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape." – works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.
Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a residential fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.
The Arlington County Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme. It is important to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different.
Fire Prevention Open House 2022
Join the Arlington County Fire Department Oct. 15 for the first ever centralized open house. ACFD is centralizing all of our open house events into a single location, with live demonstration and static displays, as well as live music and fire prevention education. Get your ticket today!
Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance. In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy.
Arlington County Fire Department wants to share a few safety tips to help keep you safe at home.
- Make a home escape plan and know at least two ways out of every room. Draw a map of your home showing all the doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in the home.
- Have an outside meeting place as a safe distance from the home.
- Practice your home fire drill twice a year, once at night and once during the day.
- Practice using different ways out.
- Teach children home to escape on their own.
- Close doors behind you as you leave.
- If the smoke alarm sounds, GET OUT AND STAY OUT. Never go back inside for people or pets.
- If you must escape through smoke, GET LOW AND GO, under the smoke.
- Call 911 from outside the house.
For more information about the ACFD and our fire prevention efforts, visit us online at fire.arlingtonva.us and follow us on social media @ArlingtonVaFD.
Original source can be found here.
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