National Fire Prevention Week continues through Saturday.
This year’s theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out.” Officials want to remind residents that during a fire, seconds can mean the difference between safely escaping or having a life end tragically.
Firefighters suggest:
-Drawing a map of your home and marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
-Practicing your home fire drill twice a year. Once at night and once during the day.
-Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
-Once you get outside, stay outside.
Fire Prevention Week is always held over Oct. 9, which was during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The fire, which started in a small barn, killed roughly 300 people and left more than 100,000 homeless. The week was created to keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.