Fire Prevention Week Begins Oct. 7

The Culver City Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year's Fire Prevention Week, which runs from Oct. 7 to Oct. 13.

Today's home fires burn faster than ever, firefighting experts say. In a typical home fire, occupants may have as little as one or two minutes to escape safely from the moment that a smoke-alarm first sounds.

Knowing how to use that minute or two wisely takes planning and practice. That's why the Culver City Fire Department will be at the Culver City Farmers' Market on Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in support of this year's Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Look. Listen. Learn."

NFPA statistics show that the number of U.S. home fires has been steadily declining over the past few decades. However, the death rate per 1000 home fires that are reported to fire departments was 10 percent higher in 2016 than in 1980.

"These numbers show that while we've made significant progress in teaching people how to prevent fires from happening, there's still much more work to do in terms of educating the public about how to protect themselves in the event of one," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA's vice president of outreach and advocacy.

"This is particularly critical given the increased speed at which today's home fires grow and spread."

Carli also notes that although people feel safest in their home, it is also the place where people are at greatest risk to fire, with four out of five U.S. fire deaths occurring at home. That over-confidence contributes to a complacency toward home-escape planning and practice.

This year's campaign highlights three simple steps people can take to help quickly and safely escape a fire:

• Look for places where a fire could start.

• Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm.

• Plot two ways out of every room.

While NFPA and the Culver City Fire Department are focusing on home fires, these fire-safety messages apply to virtually anywhere.

Situational awareness is a skill people need to use wherever they go. No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately, Carli said.