Fire Prevention Week Is October 4-10 In Ames

Press release from the City of Ames:

October 2, 2020

The Ames Fire Department will be promoting Fire Prevention Week in a different way this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the department will not be hosting its annual Fire Station Open House or visiting Ames elementary schools to deliver fire prevention information and materials.

“The Fire Department looks forward to hosting the open house and visiting Ames school children every October in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week,” said Fire Chief Rich Higgins. “COVID-19 has made these types of large gatherings unfeasible, so we’re using different ways to promote fire safety and prevention.” This year, the Fire Department is creating lesson plans and sharing an Ames Fire prevention video for teachers to use in their classrooms to share with students. The coloring contest for second graders will still take place, with winners receiving an Ames Fire Department t-shirt.

The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.” According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. “The good news is that cooking fires can easily be prevented,” said Fire Chief Higgins. “Staying in the kitchen, using a timer, and avoiding distractions such as electronics or TV are steps everyone can take to keep families safe in their homes.”

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 incident that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on Oct. 8, but continued and did the most damage on Oct. 9, 1871.

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.