50+ Lifestyles

Fire Prevention Week – October 6-12

This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!”

By Eloise Graham

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 blaze that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9.

While the Great Chicago Fire was the best known blaze of that date, it definitely was not the biggest. That distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire which roared through Northeast Wisconsin. It burned down 16 towns, killing 1.152 people and scorching 1.2 million acres of land. One hundred and fifty-three years later it is still known as the most devastating forest fire in American history.

Those who survived the Chicago and Pehtigo fires never forgot what they had been through: both blazes produced countless tales of bravery and heroism. But the fires also changed the way that firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals’ Association of North America decided that the anniversary should be observed in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation. In 1922, Fire Prevention Week was established. It is observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge signed a proclamation for Fire Prevention Week to be observed.

Each year, Fire Prevention Week has a theme assigned to it. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!”