FIRE PREVENTION WEEK 2009 OCTOBER

Newark 100 % Volunteer Fire Dept.  

display's the latest in

FIRE & RESCUE EQUIPMENT

at Wegmans Plaza Friday, October 9, 2009

It is a good chance to Meet your Newark Firefighters, and observe live demonstrations.

From October 12th - 16th, 2009, fire safety advocates will spread the word to their communities that, with a little extra caution, preventing the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating, electrical and smoking-materials – is within their power.

Commemorating a conflagration
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. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.
 

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. The fire be­gan on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

According to legend, the fire broke out after a cow ­belonging to Mrs. Catherine O'Leary  kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. Chances are you've heard some version of this story yourself; people have been blaming the Great Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs. O'Leary, for more than 130 years. But recent research by Chicago historian Robert Cromie has helped to debunk this version of events.

Like any good story, the "case of the cow" has some truth to it. The great fire almost certainly started near the barn where Mrs. O'Leary kept her five milking cows. But there is no proof that O'Leary was in the barn when the fire broke out - or that a jumpy cow sparked the, blaze. Mrs. O'Leary herself swore that she'd been in bed early that night, and that the cows were also tucked in for the evening.

But if a cow wasn't to blame for the huge fire, what was? Over the years, journalists and historians have of­fered plenty of theories. Some blamed the blaze on a couple of neighborhood boys who were near the barn sneaking cigarettes. Others believed that a neighbor of the O'Leary's may have started the fire. Some people have speculated that a fiery meteorite may have fallen to earth on October 8, starting several fires that day ­in Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as in Chicago.

The biggest blaze that week

While the Great Chicago Fire was the best-known blaze to start during this fiery two-day stretch, it wasn't the biggest. That distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating forest fire in American history. The fire, which also occurred on October 8th, 1871, and roared through Northeast Wisconsin, burning down 16 towns, killing 1152 people, and scorching 1.2 million acres before it ended. Historical accounts of the fire say that the blaze began when several railroad workers clearing land for tracks unintentionally started a brush fire. Before long; the fast-moving flames were whipping through the area 'like a tornado,' some survi­vors said. It was the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin that suffered the worst damage. Within an hour, the entire town had been destroyed.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9th falls.

According to the National Archives and Records Ad­ministration's Library Information Center, Fire Preven­tion Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

Vickie applying finishing touch to sign

Fire Safety Tips:

Emergency Dial  911

Things to do now -- BEFORE fire strikes:

Install smoke detectors in each level of your home and outside each sleeping area.

Hold a family meeting, stress the importance of fire safety to everyone, especially children.

Develop and practice your homes evacuation plan

Each bedroom should have two ways out.

Sleep with the bedroom door closed -- The door can buy you precious time while blocking smoke and fire.

Teach everyone to feel the door with the back of your hand, if the door is cool - open it cautiously.  If it is hot - don't open the door, find another way out.

Check your home or business, make sure that emergency responders can plainly see your address from the street.  Addresses should be in numbers (not words), and should be on or near the structure.  They should also contrast to what they are affixed to.

Should you ever have a fire Develop and practice home fire drills

Have a prearranged meeting place for all family members (outside and away from the home)

Once family members leave the burning home, never ever go back inside.  More lives are lost by those going back inside.  If you believe someone may be trapped inside, stay outside and tell the firefighters when they arrive.   Firefighters are equipped to enter a burning house.  You are not.

Go to a neighbors house to call the fire department

Remain at the meeting place until the fire department arrives.

How do I call the Newark Fire Department?

If you have an Emergency Dial  911 Newark Fire Department Non Emergency 331-1451   NEWARK VOLUNTEER Fire Department would like to remind the public to test your smoke detector every month, and replace the battery every six months.   Click on Dalmatian Back to Home Page