Wheeling Fire Department Urges Public to ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety’ During National Fire Prevention Week
The Wheeling Fire Department’s Bureau of Fire Prevention is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Agency once again for National Fire Prevention Week– set for October 3-9, 2021.
This year’s national theme is ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety’ – a campaign aimed at educating the public on the different sounds that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors make. Another key sound everyone should know is the beeping or chirping sound in an alarm – a safety indication that means action must be taken.
Assistant Wheeling Fire Chief Deric Jamison with the department’s Bureau of Fire Prevention encourages everyone to take a moment to learn about this year’s theme.
“You are twice as likely to survive a fire if you have a working smoke alarm. It takes seconds to change the batteries, test and learn the sounds. When your alarm is chirping – whether it be a smoke or carbon monoxide detector, don’t wait! Get yourself new batteries or install a new alarm before it is too late,” said Jamison.
The Wheeling Fire Department encourages everyone to ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety’ by following these tips:
- A continuous set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
- A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
- Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.
- Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
National Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the “Great Chicago Fire” of Oct. 8-10, 1871, which killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres.
The Wheeling Fire Department will also hold informational public meet and greets from 1-3 p.m., Monday through Wednesday at the Mount deChantal Kroger, Warwood Kroger and the Elm Grove Reisbeck’s.
WFD also reminds everyone to change the batteries in their smoke alarms twice a year – most notably on the ‘Fall Back’ and ‘Spring Forward’ clock changes. This year’s ‘Fall Back’ is 2 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 7.
For more information on Fire Prevention Week, visit firepreventionweek.org.
