Firefighters discuss safety during Fire Prevention Month

By Tracy Bell

Published: October 9, 2008

STAFFORD — Along with the ghosts and goblins that Halloween brings, October also represents Fire Prevention Month. Sure, it is not quite as appreciated as Halloween, especially for children, but that doesn’t make it any less important of an event.

After all, it saves lives.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were more than 1.5 million fires reported in the United States last year. Of those, more than half-a-million were structure fires that caused about 3,000 deaths, more than 15,300 injuries and $10.6 billion in property damages.

This year, the association’s Fire Prevention Week lasts from Oct. 5-11 with the theme, “It’s Fire Prevention Week - Prevent Home Fires.”

The more than 3,000 people who lost their lives last year represented a nearly 6 percent increase from the year prior, according to Tiffany Miller, a spokeswoman for the National Fire Sprinkler Association.

Locally, the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department asks that all residents find time in October to become better acquainted with fire safety practices in and around their homes.

According to a department press release, residents can either visit or call their local stations, attend fire prevention open houses or search information via the Internet. Whatever they do to educate themselves, Stafford firefighters say they want residents to learn more about “the inherent dangers of fire.”

An open house was held Saturday at Station 2 on U.S. 1.  To learn more, residents can still visit upcoming open houses. They include:

Station 12 – Berea
Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
20 Sebring Way, Fredericksburg
(540) 658-5330

Station 1 – Falmouth
Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
250 Butler Rd, Falmouth
(540) 373-2610