OTTAWA – This week is Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is “Have Two Ways Out!”, said Capt. Dennis Nowatzke, public fire education coordinator. In addition to having a fire escape plan, families should be sure that there are at least two escape routes from each room in their homes, he said. Only one-third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan, he said. And of the three-quarters of Americans who do have an escape plan, less than half actually practiced it, he said. “Seconds can mean the difference between life and death,” he said. Every level in a home must have a working smoke detector by state law, and it’s a good idea that every bedroom also have a smoke detector, he said. Remove clutter and unneeded papers and magazines, he said. It’s also a good time to have proper technicians inspect and repair home heating systems, he said. For more information, check the Web site www.firepreventionweek.org. Fire Prevention Week is always scheduled on the Oct. 9 anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Nowatzke. More than 300 people were killed and more than 10,000 buildings were destroyed. The national observance was signed by Pres. Woodrow Wilson.
Monday, Oct. 8, 4 p.m.
