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By Vicki Schmidt
Did you know Fire Prevention Week is always the week that includes Oct. 9, and is the oldest public health observance week in the U.S.? While it doesn’t take much to realize Fire Prevention Week is all about learning about preventing fires, just how did this week-long information campaign begin? And what’s so special about Oct. 9?
It all dates back to Oct. 8, 1871, with the ignition of two great fires: one in the urbanized city of Chicago, Ill., and the other in the rural farm and forest community of Peshtigo, Wisc.. While a cow was conveniently blamed for the Chicago fire, and the Earth passing through the tail of Biela’s comet for the Peshtigo fire, we have since determined the most likely and probable cause of both fires was ordinary bad judgment by humans – in conditions that were ripe for extreme fire behavior.
While the Great Fire of Chicago is commemorated by Fire Prevention Week, the Peshtigo fire, just 220 miles north of Chicago, was much worse. By today’s dollar both fires caused billions in property loss, with the Phestigo fire destroying 17 towns, claiming more than 1,500 lives and the loss of 1.2 million acres of valuable timber, wildlife, farmland and livestock.
Decades later, in 1920, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Oct. 9 as Fire Prevention Day and in 1922 the National Fire Protection Association named the second week of October as Fire Prevention Week. Ultimately, in 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance and the tradition continues to this day.
Every year the NFPA determines a theme for Fire Prevention Week. For 2021, the theme is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.” Fire safety alarms include both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. An interesting note to remember is smoke alarms beep for three seconds, while carbon monoxide alarms beep for four seconds. Chirping alarms are often because of low batteries, but alarms or chirping can also be caused by high humidity, steam and condensation from showers, laundry and boiling water. A home’s environmental conditions can also cause your alarms to activate. Smoke alarms operate between 40 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, while carbon monoxide alarms operate up to 100 degrees. Locating your alarms away from excess air flow such as ceiling fans, fireplaces and cooling or heating registers helps to keep them working properly.
If there are members of your household who are deaf or hard of hearing, consider specially designed alarms with bed shakers and/or strobe light features. If you know of any home that does not have a working smoke detector, please help the occupants contact their local fire department or town officials. Most towns have access to local or state programs that donate smoke detectors for those who need them, and many have firefighters who willingly help ensure they are properly installed.
And as always, test your alarms monthly, change the batteries when needed, and practice those fire exit drills with all family members, including pets. Your local first responders thank you.
– Vicki Schmidt is a Maine state fire instructor and volunteers with the Buckfield Fire Department, as well as several regional and state fire training organizations.
