New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board Observes National Fire Prevention Week Themed "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep"

The New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NJFSAB), a cooperative partnership advocating installation and proper care of fire sprinkler systems, recognizes October 4th – 10th, 2015 as National Fire Prevention Week. National Fire Prevention Week is an annual public awareness campaign to promote fire safety throughout the U.S. This year’s theme, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” focuses on educating the public about the importance of having functional smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on every level of the home. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics, half of all U.S. home fire deaths occur between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., while people are most likely to be asleep.

Created and sponsored by the NFPA, the goal of National Fire Prevention Week is to educate families on what causes home fires, how to prevent them and what to do in an emergency situation. NFPA has been the official sponsor of this campaign since 1922, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

“National Fire Prevention Week is always the perfect opportunity educate our New Jersey residents and legislators on the importance of fire safety and prevention,” said David Kurasz, Executive Director of the NJFSAB. “As fire safety advocates we always promote the dual-use of smoke alarms and fire sprinkler systems to keep people safe in the event of a fire. The smoke alarms alert people to the fire and the fire sprinklers proactively contain or extinguish the fire. In the unfortunate event of a fire in your home, you want both of these systems protecting you and your family.”

In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, NJFSAB is hosting and participating in a variety of events and training courses throughout the week to educate the public and fire officials at the following locations throughout New Jersey:

Town of Kearny Fire Department

Date: 10/4/2015

Time: 12pm – 4pm

Address: 109 Midland Ave, Kearny

Lincoln/Franklin Elementary School

Date: 10/5/2015

Time: 8am

Address: 400 Second Ave, Garwood

Gibbsboro Fire Dept.

Date: 10/5/2015

Time: 7pm

Address: 131 Hilliards Road, Gibbsboro

Fire Prevention Night

Date: 10/6/2015

Time: 6pm – 9pm

Address: 1109 Erial Road, Pine Hill

City of Passaic Fire Dept.

Date: 10/7/2015

Time: 9am—2:30pm

Address: 11 Hope Ave, Passaic

Fire Prevention Night

Date: 10/7/2015

Time: 5pm—8pm

Address: 375 West Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River

Groveville Fire: Hamilton Twp fire District 9

Date: 10/8/2015

Time: 7pm—9pm

Address: 4201 Crosswicks-Hamilton Sq Road, Hamilton

Stillwater Fire Hall

Date: 10/9/2015

Time: 10am—2pm

Address: 929 Stillwater Road, Newton

Municipal Building

Date: 10/9/2015

Time: 6:30pm—8:30pm

Address: 228 Chester Street, Nutley

Robertsville Volunteer Fire Co.

Date: 10/10/2015

Time: 10am—2pm

Address: 94 County Road, Morganville

Additionally, the NJFSAB provides the following fire safety tips for families:

· Keep and up-to-date list of emergency fire, police and medical phone numbers near your telephone. Show every member of your family where this information is kept and teach all children how to call for help in case of emergency.

· Create an escape plan with your family for multiple rooms in the house, both upstairs and downstairs.

· Ensure that the address number on your residence is clear of any obstacles or debris and can be read clearly from at least 20 feet away.

· Make sure children’s windows are clearly marked for firefighters.

· Keep flammable liquids away from heating sources and store them in a cool location. Also, make sure they are stored separately from paper products and other cloth materials.

· Keep a watchful eye on space heathers and ensure that there is at least 3 feet of clear space around them with in use. Do not leave space heathers unattended.

· Consider researching and investing in residential fire sprinklers to protect your family and property. If your residence has fire sprinklers, make sure that they are inspected periodically by trained professionals.

For more information on National Fire Prevention Week and local events in your area, visit www.NJFSAB.org.