By Olivia Wynkoop. Bay City News.
CalFire kicked off its annual Fire Prevention Week on Sunday with a special emphasis on residents planning their way to safety in the event of a home fire.
Through October 15, CalFire is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association to remind community members of the importance of having an evacuation plan in mind in the event of a home fire.
Firefighters have drawn up a plan to get residents out of a home fire quickly. There are two critical factors: properly installed smoke detectors and advance planning.
Some suggested action items mentioned in this year's campaign: check smoke alarms once a month, rehearse a home fire escape plan twice a year, and install smoke alarms in every bedroom and on every level of the home.
“In some cases, you may have as little as two minutes or less to safely escape a home fire once the smoke alarm sounds,” CalFire wrote in a news release. “After all, you plan for vacations, holidays, and weekly meals — why wouldn’t you plan to save your life and the lives of those around you in the event of a home fire?”
A recent NFPA report found that home fire deaths in the U.S. last year hit a 14-year high, making the reminder to residents even more relevant, fire officials said.
"Too many lives are lost in home fires each year in California," state Fire Marshal Mike Richwine said in a statement.
Interested parties can find more information about Fire Prevention Week at www.fpw.org.
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