Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week: October 9th-15th, 2022

As Fire Prevention Week (FPW) approaches, the Office of the Fire Marshal reminds residents “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.” That is the message fire and life safety educators in the Northwest Territories (NWT) will be promoting during FPW 2022.

The focus of this year’s campaign is to remind NWT residents to plan and practice a home fire escape to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.

Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out.

Home Fire Escape

PLANNING

  • Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

  • For the best protection, make sure all smoke alarms are interconnected. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.

  • Make sure everyone in your home knows the sound and understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

  • Make a home escape plan. Draw a map of each level of the home. Show all doors and windows.

  • Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open.

  • Practice the plan with everyone in your household, including visitors and people with disabilities who may need assistance.

  • Teach your children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them. Make sure they can open windows, remove screens, and unlock doors.

  • Have an outside meeting place (something permanent, like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) a safe distance in front of the home where firefighters will easily find you.

  • Make sure everyone in your home knows how to call 9-1-1, or your local emergency number, from a mobile phone or a trusted neighbor’s phone.

PRACTICING

  • Push the smoke alarm button to start the drill.

  • Practice what to do in case there is smoke. Get low and go. Get out fast.

  • Practice using different ways out.

  • Close doors behind you as you leave.

  • Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets, or things.

  • Go to your outside meeting place.

  • Practice your home fire escape drill at least twice a year with everyone in your home.

Resources for Schools, Parents and Caregivers *

Resources for Fire Departments *

* Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website. © 2022 NFPA.