News

Along with fire agencies and safety advocates nationwide, the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 8-14, 2017, to educate the public about the critical importance of developing a home escape plan and practicing it.

A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) that is a safe distance from the home. Developing and practicing a home escape plan is like building muscle memory.  That pre-planning is what everyone will draw upon to snap into action and escape as quickly as possible in the event of a fire.

The NFPA and the State Fire Marshal’s Office offer these additional tips and recommendations for developing and practicing a home escape plan:

• Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
• Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Make sure the address numbers of your home are clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
• Close doors behind you as you leave — this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
• Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.

To help residents experience the fun and spirit of Fire Prevention Week in their communities, a list of public events happening across the state is provided below.  Please note, most fire departments celebrate Fire Prevention Week by visiting the local schools in their communities—these events are not open to the public.  Contact your local fire agency for specific information about events open to the public.