Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.Pa-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

News Release 09-70
Date: September 25, 2009

Stations Host Fire Prevention Open House

In an effort to prevent home fires before they start, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will host Fire Prevention Week Open House, Saturday, October 10, 2009, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at all stations throughout the county. The theme for Fire Prevention Week is, “It’s Fire Prevention Week. Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”

Firefighters and paramedics will have displays and activities emphasizing fire safety, including preventing fires and fire injuries, especially in the home. Residents are encouraged to visit a nearby fire and rescue station to participate in the activities and learn more about fire safety.

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires caused more than $1.5 billion of direct property loss in 2008. Last year, 3,320 civilian fire deaths occurred, an increase of 3.2 percent—83 percent happened in the home. In 2008, there was:

• a civilian fire death every 158 minutes.
• a civilian fire injury every 31 minutes.
  

For 88 years, Fire Prevention Week has been sponsored by the NFPA and is proclaimed by the President of the United States each year. The longest running safety commemoration is the premier fire safety program of the fire service, drawing the participation of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and other fire departments in the U.S. and Canada.

To learn more about fire prevention go to www.firepreventionweek.org.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Captain I William Moreland, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.
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