I don’t typically repost my blog entries, but this one came to mind again after a recent discussion with a colleague. I first posted this in October 2008. I haven’t changed my thoughts about it at all.

How are you celebrating?

I was asked several times this week what I was doing to “celebrate” fire prevention week. I replied, “nothing.” Of course, this reply often raises eyebrows and suspicions as to my professionalism. I find it exhausting to explain my philosophy each time the question is asked, but I do feel that my story needs telling.

First of all, fire prevention week is NOT a celebration. It has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The conflagration killed more than 300 people, left 100,000 homeless, and destroyed countless buildings and homes.* A bit more than forty years after the event President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first national fire prevention week, October 4-10, 1925. Since then the National Fire Protection Association has endeavored to continue the tradition.

Coolidge, with some wisdom and sympathy, had realized that more than 15,000 persons per year were dying from fires in the U.S. He called this situation “startling.” Coolidge stated,

“This waste results from the conditions which justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater part of it could and ought to be prevented… It is highly desirable that every effort be made to reform the conditions which have made possible so vast a destruction of the national wealth”.

And, in all respects I agree absolutely with his sentiment. I don’t, however, believe that a single week should be the focus of the efforts to prevent these devastating fires.

Corporate convenience

Each October I receive more phone calls asking for fire department participation for events, tours, corporate “community days” and special events than I can possibly accommodate. Most of the requests come last minute, as people have realized that their corporation calendar shows “Fire Prevention Week.”

Sadly, I find that most of these last minute requests are [often] feeble attempts for companies and organizations to show their “community spirit.” They want to show their “neighbors” how much they care. So, obviously, the best thing to do is to invite the big red fire trucks to come to their parking lot to draw attention to their business. Perhaps to pull some people in off the street that hadn’t been there in awhile — or at all. Unfortunately, I’ve realized throughout the twenty years that there is little interest by the public to stop by for some free safety literature and a look at the truck. There are a handful of parents and kids at each of these events… and there is an attempt by the fire department personnel to provide education when possible. But overall, it is a very thin smokescreen for sales building.

And in the areas where fire departments do not have the budget or staff to provide year-round education, this is their attempt at providing “something” to help educate the public. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done (besides the obvious public relations benefit to the agency) to educate the public about safety in such a short period of time. Very few of these fire prevention week activities provide quality education that has residual and retentive benefit.

Because It’s Fire Prevention Week!

During my twenty years in the fire service, I have taught more than 8,600 children per year, more than 1,000 adults each year, and have provided more messages about fire safety than I could possibly count. I work constantly at providing enough education throughout the year to maintain the messages throughout the community. There is NO way that a week of fire prevention messages would ever enable me to accomplish this task. And there is no reason that anyone should limit their focus on preventing fires to only one week each year.

Yet, I get constant requests (a day or week before Fire Prevention Week) for the fire department to visit local daycares, preschools, companies and businesses. They think of it just before the week starts — and then get angry or disappointed that we can’t provide the service.

Keeping up with the schedule

I schedule each of my classes well in advance. The department has long maintained a policy of 30 days notice for any request. My school programs start in September — and they are typically scheduled by the end of the previous school year (in May). And, because the bulk of our tours and school programs happen in the fall, they coincidentally fall during October. This leaves little room for me to schedule additional activities.

A few years ago a local preschool became very angry with me that I would not come to their school and that I would not bring a fire engine during fire prevention week. They called me three days in advance. They explained that “we are an accredited school and should be given the same opportunity as other schools!” I agreed. I told them to follow the same procedures that the other schools followed to be added to the schedule. I told them that I would be glad to put them in the calendar if they filled out the appropriate forms and submitted them at least 30 days prior to their requested date.

They were so angry that they went to the mayor to complain. The mayor went to the fire chief and the chief to me. All for the sake of providing a fire engine for a visit to “celebrate fire prevention week.” They explained that their corporation ‘requires’ them to have the fire department visit that week. I asked, “what if the fire department is unavailable?” I wondered what happens when the fire department has an emergency and has to divert their crews from the detail. Does the corporation CLOSE the affiliated school? Highly unlikely.

Take precautions and check your safety regularly

I don’t agree with Fire Prevention Week as a concept, but do understand why it exists. I think we have failed to realize the real focus of the message, though. Instead of thinking about fire safety as a grandiose catch-phrase each October, we should be planning and practicing our fire safety skills throughout the year.

When is the last time that you and your family actually PRACTICED a home fire drill? Have you gone through the motions? Are you one of the people that uses excuses to justify the lack of practice? Believe me I have heard them all over the last twenty years:

• It’s not going to happen to us
• We’re too busy
• We already know what to do
• It’s a waste of time
• That’s what insurance is for
• How hard can it be?

And many, many more. I can easily give you the responses to these excuses, but I’ll save that for another writing. Let’s just put it this way… “Just because you think you know what to do doesn’t mean you can really do it.”

It has been proven that the acts of planning and actually PRACTICING home fire drills can save more lives. I encourage you to do this. Not just during fire prevention week, but at least two or three times each year. Don’t know how? Check out the easy steps available at the Home Safety Council.

Footnote

*Tragically, the worst recorded forest fire in North American history raged through Northeastern Wisconsin (Peshtigo) and Upper Michigan at the same time the fire was burning in Chicago. This fire destroyed millions of dollars worth of property and timberland, and took between 1,200 and 2,400 lives. But, because the Peshtigo fire didn’t include a legend of a cow and lantern, it seems to have faded into general obscurity.