Countryside Fire Protection District’s  Annual Open House is scheduled for SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2022 from 8 a.m. – Noon at Station No. 2 located at 600 N. Deerpath Drive, Vernon Hills, IL.

CFPD 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 (October 9-15), “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.

According to NFPA data, home — the place people feel safest from fire — is actually where they are at greatest risk, with three-quarters (74 percent) of all U.S. fire deaths occurring in homes. When a home fire does occur, it’s more likely to be serious; people are more likely to die in a home fire today than they were in 1980.

“Today’s homes burn faster and hotter than they used to, minimizing the amount of time they have to escape safely,” said Carli. “In a typical home fire, you may have as little as two minutes to get out from the time the smoke alarms sounds.”

CFPD encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme. Here are some safety tips to practice with all members of your household to ensure that everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and uses that time wisely.

• Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
• Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

Learn more about Fire Prevention Week, and this year’s theme by coming to our Open House!