The City of Thomasville and Thomasville Fire Rescue will be recognizing National Fire Prevention Week from October 6th – 12th. Fire Prevention Week has been observed publicly since 1922, and was officially proclaimed for national observance in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge. Fire Prevention Week remains the longest-running public health observance in the United States.
This year’s campaign slogan is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice your Escape!” The campaign works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those that they love safe in the event of a fire.
“The statistics show that fire departments respond to over 350,000 home structure fires in a year. On average, seven people died in a house fire per day from 2012 to 2016,” said Tim Connell, City of Thomasville Fire Rescue Assistant Chief. “These statistics are indicative of the importance of fire safety and situational awareness that citizens should use in their home and wherever they go.”
Planning and practicing your home escape in the event of a house fire is important for all families. “In a typical home fire, you may only have one or two minutes to escape. Your family having a plan in place can ensure everyone has enough time to escape the home safely and without injury,” Connell said. He also encourages the community to check their smoke alarms regularly. “TFR can install smoke alarms at no charge in your home,” said Connell. “Working smoke alarms are proven to save lives. When mere minutes can make the difference between escaping safely or suffering injuries due to a house fire, preparation is key.”
In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, Thomasville Fire Rescue will be on site for the upcoming Celebration of Service event being held at The Ritz Amphitheater on Tuesday, October 8th from 5 – 7 pm. “We’ll have an informational booth set up with fire safety tips, and across Stevens Street in the Trinity Anglican Church parking lot we’ll have a fire truck for the community to get up close with and experience what it’s like for a firefighter headed to a call.” Connell said they also have a special surprise for attendees. “We’ll also have a demonstration trailer on site for the community to walk through and experience a simulation of what a house fire can feel like. This is a great tool that reiterates the importance of having an exit strategy.”
Additionally, TFR recently announced the completion of renovations to Station 2, located at 1750 South Pinetree Boulevard. To celebrate the newly renovated facility, TFR will be hosting an open house for the community on October 17th from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. “We’ll be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, there will be a bouncy house for the kids, and we will offer facility tours both of the station and our training grounds,” said Connell. “We are very proud of the facility and the training grounds which include a burn building, maze, and fire tower.”
During the event, citizens can also sign up for free smoke alarm installations, participate in fire prevention demonstrations, and tour fire vehicles. “We want the community to experience not only the updated facility, but also the vehicles we drive to each scene and the training grounds our staff use to ensure we are always prepared in the event of a fire,” said Connell.
For more information on the installation of free smoke alarms in your home, the upcoming Station 2 Open House, or for other fire prevention tips, please call Thomasville Fire Rescue at 229-227-4099. For more information on the upcoming Celebration of Service event, please contact Chelsie Cosby at 229-227-4092.