October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week. Remember: "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape."

October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week! This year’s FPW theme “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. This year’s theme is a great reminder about knowing what to do and practicing a home fire escape for when a fire emergency happens.
 
Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning. If a fire breaks out in your home, everyone needs to know what to do and where to go.

Here are some simple steps you can take in creating and practicing a family fire escape plan. 
 
SAFETY TIPS

• MAKE a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
• KNOW at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
• HAVE an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
• PRACTICE your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.

• If the smoke alarm sounds, GET OUT AND STAY OUT. Never go back inside for people or pets.
• If you have to escape through smoke, GET LOW AND GO under the smoke to your way out.
• CALL the fire department from outside your home.

 
Stay tuned throughout this week for more safety tips!

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, the City will provide daily fire safety tips on social media and in the City Manager's Weekly Administrative Report.  Subscribe to the Weekly Administrative Report listserv at rpvca.gov/notify. And be sure to visit fpw.org for additional fire safety tips and resources.