The latest statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) show that if you have a reported fire in your home, you are more likely to die today than you were a few decades ago. This startling statistic helped shape this year’s Fire Prevention Week™ theme: "Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware - fire can happen anywhere.TM" Fire Prevention Week takes place October 7-13, 2018.

 

Through three simple calls-to-action, "Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware - fire can happen anywhere." identifies basic but essential ways people can reduce their risk to fire and be prepared in the event of one:

 

• Look for places fire can start
• Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm
• Learn two ways out of each room

These Fire Prevention Week messages apply to virtually all locations, but NFPA is continuing its focus on home fire safety, as the majority of U.S. fire deaths (four out of five) occur in homes each year. In fact, the fire death rate (per 1000 home fires reported to the fire department) was 10 percent higher in 2016 than in 1980.

“Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.” works to remind the public that fires can and do still happen – at home, as well as other locations - and that there are simple but vitally important steps people can take to remain safe.

As the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, NFPA works with local fire departments throughout North America to promote the campaign in their communities and reaches out to the public directly to encourage everyone to take action to be safe. For more information about this year’s “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.” campaign, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.