Fire Prevention Week returns with fire escape advice Published Sept. 26, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Michael Falkoski 7th Civil Engineer Squadron fire prevention officer DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Fire Prevention Week is upon us once again. The message of this year's Fire Prevention Week is "Practice Your Escape Plan." From Oct. 7 to 13, Fire Prevention personnel will be spreading the word that when it comes to escape plans, practice is key. Whether you're a firefighter, a teacher or a parent, Dyess' fire department has a lot of helpful information to help you, your family members, friends, and neighbors escape safely in the event of a fire in the home. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 blaze 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 October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on Oct. 9, 1871. The fire changed the way firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. The commemoration grew incrementally official over the years. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925. (Information was pulled from the NFPA web site, www.nfpa.org ) In honor of the week, Dyess' fire department will host the following events: Sunday, Oct.7 10 a.m. - Fire Dept. Parade through Base Housing (tentative) Monday, Oct. 8 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fire Prevention display at the base exchange (Tours Available all day at Fire station ) Tuesday, Oct. 9 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dyess Elementary 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fire Prevention Display at the BX 3:30 to 7 p.m. Open Smoke House - Display with Truck & Sparky Location 112 Washington St (Tours Available all day at Fire station) Wednesday, Oct. 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fire Prevention Display at the BX 9 a.m. - Visit Building 8150, Child Development Center 3:30 to 7 p.m. Open Smoke House - Display with Truck & Sparky Location 112 Washington St (Tours Available all day at Fire station) Thursday, Oct. 11 8 to 10:30 a.m. - Home Daycare Provider's Smoke House Training at 112 Washington St 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Fire Muster Challenge at base parade ground 10 to 15 teams (4 person team) 5 to 7:30 p.m. - Commanders Combat Challenge at 112 Washington St Friday, Oct. 12 8 to 9 a.m. - Fire Drill at the fitness center 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - 1400 Reagan Elementary (Tentative) 5 to 6 p.m. - Poster Contest winner announcement at Youth Center Saturday, Oct. 13 Open House at fire station from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Tours Available)