HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The fire department at Hill Air Force Base is gearing up to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week.
Observed annually in October, this year’s Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 9-15 with fire departments across the nation using the campaign to connect with the public through educational events and school visits to promote fire safety.
The 2022 campaign kicked off at Hill AFB with a signing of a Fire Prevention Week Proclamation on Sept. 29 by Col. Jeffrey Holland, 75th Air Base Wing commander. During the month, the fire prevention section at Hill AFB will participate in activities to celebrate the week.
Fire Prevention Week activities:
• Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Hill Field Elementary
School coordinated classroom visits, fire truck tours, class pictures with fire truck, and equipment displays and demonstrations.
• Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 3-6 p.m., Boyer Hill Military Housing Liberty Heights Park
Fire truck tours, equipment displays and fire prevention handouts.
• Thursday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., AAFES Exchange
Fire truck tours, equipment displays and fire prevention handouts.
This year’s theme "Fire Won't Wait - Plan Your Escape" serves as a reminder about the importance of planning. The campaign includes the following recommendations:
• Practice home fire drills at least twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day.
• Identify places in homes where fires can start and eliminate those hazards.
• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
• Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm and when the alarm sounds respond by going outside immediately to the designated meeting place.
• Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association has sponsored the public fire prevention observance to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.
The official observance began in 1925 when President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance.
For more information about fire prevention and the scheduled activities, call the Hill AFB fire prevention section at 801-777-0236