(Lawrenceville, Ga., October 5, 2018) – Working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a fire. That’s just one of the many messages behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.”

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and community volunteers to promote Fire Prevention Week/Month in Gwinnett County and to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home, developing home escape plans, practicing fire drills and eliminating hazards that could cause a fire to start or spread rapidly.

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms. Make sure your home is equipped with a smoke alarm on every level and in each of the bedrooms. Smoke alarms provide early warning and give occupants added time to escape the deadly smoke and toxic gases.

“In a fire, seconds count. Nearly half of all home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., when most people are asleep,” said Gwinnett Fire Education Lieutenant Loren Johnson.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week/Month campaign includes the following fire safety messages:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do. Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly. Make sure everyone knows the sound of the smoke alarm and what to do.
• Develop a home fire escape plan and practice fire drills regularly. Make sure everyone in the household gets involved.
• Keep a portable fire extinguisher close at hand in the kitchen to douse a small fire.
• Have a collapsible fire escape ladder upstairs in case traditional exits are blocked by smoke and flames. Go to the meeting place outside, like a tree or the mailbox.  
• When escaping a home fire, crawl low under the smoke and heat.  Never go back inside a burning building. Call 911 from outside and wait for firefighters to arrive.    

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services will be hosting activities throughout the entire month of October to share fire and life safety tips with members of the community. Citizens are invited to join public safety professionals and community volunteers at the annual Public Safety Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. The event includes a touch-a-truck featuring a variety of fire and police vehicles and educational displays with information about fire and crime prevention for all ages.  

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation to Fire Chief Russell Knick at their regular meeting on Oct. 2 recognizing October as Fire Prevention Month in Gwinnett County. The department traditionally spends the month focusing on key fire prevention topics and encourages proper community risk reduction and life safety practices year-round.    

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week/Month programs and activities, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678-518-4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com. You may also visit the NFPA website at www.firepreventionweek.org.