fire safety

National Fire Prevention Week spans from October 6-12 this year. The theme is “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” Every day, at least one child dies from a home fire and every hour about 14 children are injured from fires or burns.

I’m writing to you today with a heavy heart. This holiday weekend when most of us were celebrating the 4th of July, a home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania experienced a devastating fire. Three adults and four children died in this home fire. There were no smoke alarms in the home.

Summer has always been my favorite time of the year. My family does not let a summer weekend go by without finding something to celebrate and a reason to get together and have a barbecue - Memorial Day, Father’s Day, the 4th of July and 4 birthdays all within a week of each other at the end of July (mine, my mom, my daughter, and my sister)!

One Saturday afternoon last month, I was lying on my couch watching a thought-provoking, sophisticated film – OK, it was "The Notebook" – when I decided I wanted some popcorn.

Car seat...Check.
Crib with no bumpers...Check.
Diapers, wipes, cute clothes...Check, check, check.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors that work…Check (of course).

Our partners at the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) are dedicated to educating children and families about fire safety. Now that it’s National Fire Prevention Week, USFA Fire Program Specialist Teresa Neal wanted to share a few messages and one very important challenge.