Fire Prevention Week is here

Stay Fire Smart - Don't Get Burned the theme for 2009

TORONTO, Oct. 1 /CNW/ -

NEWS

Fire Prevention Week is October 4 to 10 and this year's theme is Stay Fire Smart - Don't Get Burned. Designed to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities from fires, the theme will educate Ontarians about preventing burns and keeping homes safe from fires.

The top three leading causes of fires are cooking, heating and cooling appliances and electrical wiring. Ways to reduce these fires include:

    
    -   Watch what you heat. Stay in the kitchen when cooking - especially if
        using oil or high temperatures.
    -   Plug space heaters and other heavy appliances directly into an
        electrical outlet.
    -   Avoid running cords under rugs, which can damage the cord and cause a
        fire.
    

QUOTES

"Being fire smart means taking every precaution to avoid fires and knowing how to respond in the event they do happen. Fire Prevention Week gives us a great opportunity to deliver the message and promote community safety."

- Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

"In some fires, occupants have less than a minute to escape their homes. With a limited time frame to escape, everyone needs to practise fire safety in their homes such as having working smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside all sleeping areas and having a home fire escape plan to ensure everyone knows what do in a fire."

- Pat Burke, Ontario Fire Marshal

LEARN MORE

An annual public education event, Fire Prevention Week enables fire departments across the province to organize a variety of educational fire safety activities within their communities. It also commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 in which an estimated 300 people tragically perished and some 18,000 buildings were destroyed. For more information about activities in your area, contact your local fire department.

For further information: Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, [phone]; Bev Gilbert, Office of the Fire Marshal, [phone]