SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Syracuse’s LeMoyne Elementary was set to be the site of the Syracuse Fire Department’s official kickoff to National Fire Prevention Week on Monday morning, but, ironically, wet weather forced its cancellation.
Despite the small setback, Syracuse will, along with many other cities nationwide, celebrate Fire Prevention Week (FPW) from Sunday Oct. 6 to Saturday Oct. 12. Syracuse Fire Department is set to host a parade and open house at Fire Station No. 2 at 2300 Lodi St. from 11 a.m.-2 p.m on Saturday. The event will serve to educate families and children with fire safety demonstrations, a fire safety trailer and a kids’ fun zone where children can meet fire-related mascots.
FPW is especially important to New York State which has battled with several deadly fires in 2019. According to data collected by the U.S. Fire Administration, New York State leads the country in civilian fire deaths in 2019 with a reported 87 fatalities, one more than the much more populous state of Texas.
The theme for this year’s FPW, however, seeks to give Americans the tools they need to prepare themselves to escape those fires if they need to with the motto: Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape.
According to the event’s international sponsor, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the 2019 theme, “works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.”
NFPA offers a few simple tips to help prepare people for fires if they do come about, including making a detailed plan and drawing out escape routes for everyone in the house and practicing that plan at least twice a year both during the day and at night.
For more information about FPW and for resources to educate others, visit the NFPA online, where you can find NFPA’s mission, activities and educational materials for children and an FPW toolkit.
