For Immediate Release
October 9, 2018
Contact: Will Boettner, Fire Safety Outreach Coordinator
(512) 763-9686
Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office reminds everyone that October 7-13, 2018 is National Fire Prevention Week. All citizens of Travis County are encouraged to remember that fire can happen anywhere and that the best way to protect your homes and families is to learn about fire.
This year’s national theme is “Look, Listen, and Learn – Be Aware Fire Can Happen Anywhere”. All citizens of Travis County are encouraged to remember that the best way to protect your homes and families is to look, listen, and learn about fire.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that the four out of five fire deaths occur at home each year. Because today’s home fires burn faster than ever, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape. Nationally, fire departments respond to an average of one home fire every 86 seconds.
During the past 12 months, fires threatened the lives and property of Travis County residents every week. Travis County citizens should know that cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries followed by heating equipment fires.
The NFPA reports that only 1 in 3 American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Since the highest risk from home fires is to children under five and adults over 65, it is critically important to install smoke alarms in your home. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 50 percent. Sadly, three out of every five home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
The Travis County Fire Marshal encourages all citizens to follow this year’s fire prevention message:
Look- Look for places where fire could start
Listen- Listen for the sound of the fire alarm
Learn- Learn two ways out of every room
