Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department Open House Coming Up

The City of Falls Church is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home and testing them monthly, according to a news release from the City.

The Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department and the Arlington Career Firefighters will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm to promote “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives!” The open house location is at Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department: Falls Church Fire Station #6 - 555 N. Washington St.

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 smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. “In a fire, seconds count,” said Captain Tom Polera, City of Falls Church Fire Marshal.

“Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.”

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm 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 in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

Visit www.fallschurchva.gov/firemarshal for additional safety information.

PHOTO courtesy of the City of Falls Church

Top Row pictured from left to right: City Council Member Karen Oliver, City Council Member Marybeth Connelly, Mayer David Tarter, City Council Member Phil Duncan and City Council Member Dan Sze

Bottom Row pictured from left to right: Tom Polera City of Falls Church Fire Marshal, Kevin Henry Chief of the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department, Brendan Meehan Assistant Chief of the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department