ARCADIA FIRE DEPARTMENT REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT OCTOBER 7-13, 2018 IS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

October 5, 2018 – “Look. Listen. Learn.” What does that mean? Today’s home fires burn fasterthan ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice. Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13 this year.

The Arcadia Fire Department is promoting this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Look.Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere!” National statistics show that the number of U.S. home fires has been steadily declining over the past few decades. However, the death rate per 1,000 home fires that are reported to fire departments was 10% higher in 2016 than in 1980. Although people feel safest in their home, it is also the place people are at greatest risk to fire, with four out of five U.S. fire deaths occurring at home. That over-confidence contributes to a complacency toward home escape planning and practice.

This year’s “Look. Listen. Learn.” campaign highlights three simple steps people can take to help quickly and safely escape a fire:

1.   LOOK for places fire could start.

2.   LISTEN for the sound of the smoke alarm.

3.   LEARN two (2) ways out of every room.During the month of October, the Arcadia Fire Department will be spreading the word and providing information on the necessity of looking, listening, and learning. For further information, contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at (626) 574-5104 or visit the City’s website for updates at www.ArcadiaCA.gov or the NFPA’s at www.firepreventionweek.org.