Northwest Iowa — This upcoming week is National Fire Prevention Week.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years,” represents the final year of the National Fire Protection Association’s three-year effort to educate the public about basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety.
The NFPA says they have focused on smoke alarms for three years because their survey data shows that the public has many misconceptions about smoke alarms, which they say may put them at increased risk in the event of a home fire. For example, only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced.
They say you should not only replace the battery at least once per year, but smoke alarms themselves should be replaced every ten years. They advise that you should make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home. The NFPA says it’s easy to do. You can just look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced ten years from that date.
Orange City Fire Chief Denny Vander Wel tells us there are a number of ways to practice fire safety.
For more information, you can check out nfpa.org.
Meanwhile, it’s also about time for the Sheldon Fire Company’s annual Fun Night. Brad Hindt with the fire company says the 52nd annual fun night will be on Thursday, October 13th. Again, it will include movies at Main Street 3 Theaters, Grocery Bingo at the Fire Station and Swimming at the Holiday Inn Express.
The movie will be Angry Birds, Rated PG, with showings at 5:30, 6:00, and 7:30 p.m.
The Grocery Bingo starts at 7, and the swimming is from 7 to 9 p.m.
He says if you didn’t get tickets, they are available at the individual events for a donation to the Fire Company.
Hindt also reminds people that when they hear the fire sirens blowing at 6 p.m. on Thursday, it’s not just for fun. He says they blow the sirens to remind you to practice your fire exit plan. He says it’s called “Operation EDITH” — that’s an acronym, and it stands for Exit Drill In The Home.
Hindt says firefighters will also be busy in the upcoming week teaching kids in the schools about fire safety.
