"Time is precious during a house fire, so it’s important to know how to get out fast," said the acting fire chief. "Every second counts. Work with your family to create a home escape plan with two ways out of every room and a place to meet outside. Once you have an escape plan, practise it together so you all know where to go."
Fire Prevention Week Open House Sept. 30
Your smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night. There’s smoke in the hallway outside your bedroom. Do you know how to get out? What if flames are blocking your way? You only have seconds – do you know another way out?
Acting Fire Chief Jeff McCormick encourages residents to mark Fire Prevention Week by planning how to escape their home in the event of an emergency with two ways out of every room.
"Time is precious during a house fire, so it’s important to know how to get out fast," said the acting fire chief. "Every second counts. Work with your family to create a home escape plan with two ways out of every room and a place to meet outside. Once you have an escape plan, practise it together so you all know where to go."
Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out is the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week, taking place Oct. 8-14. The acting fire chief invites residents to discuss home escape plans, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and fire safety during the Fire Prevention Week Open House Saturday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services - Fire Station 1, located at 64 Geneva St. The open house features fun family activities, including fire hall tours, contests, children’s activities, a free barbecue and more.
Fire Services will also hold fire drills and discuss home escape plans and fire safety at schools across St. Catharines. Fire safety information and handouts will be available at St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre from Oct. 8-14. Firefighters will be at Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm for Pumpkinville on Saturday, Oct. 14, between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to meet families and discuss home escape plans and fire safety. Firefighters will also be at Home Depot: Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon, to discuss home escape plans and fire safety.
Visit www.stcatharines.ca/Fire or call the Fire Prevention Office 905.688.5600 ext. 4224 for more information about Fire Prevention Week or to discuss home escape plans, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and more fire safety tips.
