N.D. Fire Marshal Reminds Residents of Fire Prevention During Week of Oct. 3-9

North Dakota Fire Marshal Ray Lambert is reminding residents that “National Fire Prevention Week” begins on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004.

The Fire Marshal’s office, a division of the Attorney General’s office, joins the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) each year
to focus attention on fire prevention, safety, and awareness in the community. This year’s theme is “It’s Fire Prevention Week: Test Your Smoke Alarms.” Even though smoke alarms are now widely popular, nationwide almost 70 percent of home fire deaths reportedly result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

In 2003, there were 475 residential fires reported to the North Dakota Fire Marshal’s office, with more than $3.5 million lost. There were four fire-related deaths, and there were no operational smoke alarms in any of these homes. Unattended cooking was the cause of three of the fatal fires.

“Working smoke alarms cut your chances of dying in a home fire nearly in half. A fire can spread through your home rapidly. You may have as little as two minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Smoke detectors save lives,” Lambert said.

To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit NFPA at www.firepreventionweek.org.