Brantford Fire Department reminds public to Plan and Practice Your Escape

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Brantford, ON – The Brantford Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)—the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape! from October 6 to October 12, 2019. The campaign aims to educate the public about the small, but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. 

In Canada, most fire deaths occur in the home, where people believe they are safest. Canadian fire departments respond to roughly 25,600 structure fires per year. In 2015, structure fires caused more than 1,400 injuries and almost 200 deaths.* The City of Brantford hasn’t had a fatal fire since 2016 and the Fire Department wants to keep it that way. This year alone, Ontario has experienced 49 fatal fires resulting in 55 fatalities from January 1, 2019 to October 1, 2019.

“These numbers show that home fires continue to pose a significant threat to safety,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy. “In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.

While NFPA and the Brantford Fire Department are focusing on home fires, these messages apply to virtually any location. 

“Situational awareness is a skill people need to use wherever they go,” said Deputy Fire Chief, Anna Everett. “No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately.”

The Brantford Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!, including a number of displays with educational information and a chance to see a fire truck on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Beckett Building

219 Colborne Street, Brantford

 

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fresh Co.

50 Market Street South, Brantford

 

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre

254 North Park Street, Brantford

 

Thursday, October 10, 2019

4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Elements Casino Brantford

40 Icomm Dr., Brantford

 

Friday, October 11, 2019

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Lowes  - Lowes, First Alert & OAFC Event

215 Henry Street, Brantford

To celebrate the end of Fire Prevention Week, an Open House will be taking place at Fire Station #4, 400 Colborne Street West, Brantford on Saturday, October 12,, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Brantford, please contact the Brantford Fire Department at 519-752-4346 or email fire@brantford.ca and follow Brantford Fire on social media. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and home escape planning, visit www.fpw.org.

* Fire data for 2012-2016 was obtained from 10 of the 13 provincial and territorial offices of the fire marshal/fire commissioner; 2015 is the most recent year for which injury/fatality data is available. 

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Brantford Fire Contact:

Anna Everett, Deputy Fire Chief | Brantford Fire Department | Office: 519.752.4122 Ext. 5097 | aeverett@brantford.ca

Media Contact:

Kelly Page, Communications Specialist, Communications and Community Engagement |
City of Brantford | Office: 519.759.4150 Ext. 5741 | kpage@brantford.ca