Fire Prevention Week
Oct. 7th - Oct. 15th, 2007

History Compiled by NFPA
Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8 but continued into and did most damage on October 9, 1871. In just 27 hours, this tragic conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals' Association of North America (now known as the International Fire Marshal's Association), the oldest membership section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), decided that the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, National Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday-through-Saturday period in which October 9 falls. In addition, the President of the United States has signed a proclamation pronouncing a national observance during that week every year since 1925.

This Year's Theme - Use Candles with Care
This year's theme, "Use Candles with Care", is simple but important. Candles may look nice, but they’re a growing fire threat in our communities. And knowing the facts about candles is a key to fire safety. That’s why NFPA has chosen “Use Candles with Care” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week (FPW), October 9-15.

Our education team heads out to the Waltham schools this week with safety lessons that focus on basic fire and life safety tips that can be learned by everyone: React to smoke alarms, practice home escape plans, and know where your exits are no matter where you go. Our fire safety team begins with our Firefighters and S.A.F.E. instructors. But we can't do it alone; we need kids, parents, even grandparents to team up behind them. With this help, we hope families will be more prepared than ever to prevent or survive a fire.

Waltham's Fire Prevention Week
Schedule of Activities

Monday: October 8, 2007

• Columus Day Holiday