Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12
National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12 and now is the perfect time to sign up to become a volunteer firefighter.
The Chester County Fire Chiefs Association is encouraging community members ready to volunteer at their local station to visit HelpFightFire.com.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” It emphasizes the need to have an escape plan in place in the event of a house fire and practicing it to make sure everyone has enough time to get out, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.
A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) that’s a safe distance from the home. Home escape plans should be practiced twice a year by all members of the household, according to the NFPA.
Visit Your Local Fire Station
Across Chester County, fire stations will celebrate National Fire Prevention Week in their own way. Many will host open houses, where visitors can meet with volunteers, participate in fire prevention activities and learn how they can get involved. Contact your local fire station to find out what it has planned. Updates will also be posted on https:// www.facebook.com/helpfightfire/
“Meet the brave men and women who help keep you and your family safe every day,” said Neil Vaughn, head of the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association recruitment committee. “We need more volunteers like you and Fire Prevention Week is the perfect time for you to learn more. Find out what your fire station has planned and stop by.”
Help Make a Difference
The need for volunteer firefighters in Chester County has never been greater and there are plenty of ways to serve. From firefighters, junior firefighters and EMTs, to fire police and administrative volunteers, everyone can help. Hear from a few of our volunteers about why they continue to serve:
“It’s a great way to give back,” said Alert Fire Company No. 1 volunteer firefighter Karl Stevens, “while also spending time with family and friends. Being part of a volunteer fire company is a great way to meet new people from all different backgrounds.”
“As a first responder you have to remember that the people we are helping and caring for are in a vulnerable moment in their lives, whether they are experiencing an emergency, a motor vehicle accident or a fire,” said West Grove Fire Company volunteer EMT Chrissy Miller. “The other firefighters and EMTs that I ride with do just that; they care.”
“The younger guys join because of the sirens,” said Thorndale Fire Company volunteer fire police officer Ron Miller. “But I do it because of the satisfaction I get from giving back to the community. We’re helping someone in times of desperation and making life easier for them.”
“Ask any firefighter and they’ll each tell you, it’s an adrenaline rush to respond to an emergency call,” said Mike King, vice president of the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association. “You’ll love being part of a team that helps save lives. And if going into a burning building isn’t your thing, there are other ways to help too. There’s a volunteer role for you.”
To learn more about how to become a volunteer firefighter in Chester County, go to HelpFightFire.com.
Chester County Fire Chiefs Association
The Chester County Fire Chiefs Association represents the volunteer members of 55 fire departments and companies throughout Chester County. Through its website HelpFightFire. com, the Association looks to raise awareness of the need for volunteer firefighters and the ways members can help. Volunteers protect the community every day through fire suppression, rescue services and by being among the first on the scene in an emergency.
In addition, they educate Chester County residents of all ages about the importance of fire prevention and safety. For more information, visit HelpFightFire.com.
Fire Prevention Week
NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation declaring a national observance during that week every year since 1925. Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more safety information.