Fire Prevention Week looks to ignite an understanding of home fire safety

When was the last time you looked at your fire escape plan for your home?

That's the focus for this year's official Fire Prevention Week in Swift Current. 

Fire Prevention Week 2022 will focus on educating and expanding people's knowledge of how their homes are more flammable than ever. The official title is 'Fire won't wait, plan your escape'.

Deputy Fire Chief for the Swift Current Fire Department, Pete L'Heureux, presented this year's theme to city council last week. He shared some vital information with those gathered. 

"Forty years ago we had an average of 17 minutes to escape a standard residential structure fire," said L'Heureux. "Three minutes is now the average time we have to escape our home in the case of fire."

Members of the Swift Current Fire Department. (photo by Hayden Michaels)

This deadly decrease in the departure deadline is due to a change in the materials used in home construction. Modern materials ignite and burn much easier, leading to faster spreading fires.  

In order to ensure that a home is safe and ready for a fire, keeping fire alarms in working order with monthly tests, as well as making sure fire extinguishers can be accessed and are functioning, are important steps. 

Planning escape routes that take into account each family member's mobility and abilities are also important. Practicing exiting with each member from each room is also important in understanding the fastest way out of the home. 

"These seem like logical ideas that should not need to be stated, but reminding and being reminded about some basic safety ideas is a step towards implementing them," reminded L'Heureux. 

October 9 to 15 marks the National Fire Protection Association's 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week.