Hermitage Fire Department

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Fire Prevention History
 
Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recognizes the calendar week in which October 9 falls as Fire Prevention Week.  Fire prevention week is an excellent opportunity to teach - and reteach - children about the dangers of fire and how to prevent fire and fire-related injuries.
 
Throughout the month of October every year, the Hermitage Fire Department visits every elementary school within the City to teach the children about fire safety.  With the aid of the Mercer County Fire Chief's Association Fire Safety House, exciting videos and lectures by our Fire Safety Education Specialist, and our interactive 'Sparky' robot, we aim to engage the kids in an exciting learning environment.
 
 
 
 
Commemorating a conflagration
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

The biggest blaze that week
While the Great Chicago Fire was the best-known blaze to start during this fiery two-day stretch, it wasn't the biggest. That distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating forest fire in American history. The fire, which also occurred on October 8th, 1871, and roared through Northeast Wisconsin, burning down 16 towns, killing 1,152 people, and scorching 1.2 million acres before it ended.

Historical accounts of the fire say that the blaze began when several railroad workers clearing land for tracks unintentionally started a brush fire. Before long, the fast-moving flames were whipping through the area 'like a tornado,' some survivors said. It was the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin that suffered the worst damage. Within an hour, the entire town had been destroyed.

Eight decades of fire prevention
Those who survived the Chicago and Peshtigo fires never forgot what they'd been through; both blazes produced countless tales of bravery and heroism. But the fires also changed the way that firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. The commemoration grew incrementally official over the years.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925 (www.nfpa.org).

Fire Safety Resources

 

FireSafety.gov

www.firesafety.gov

FireSafety.gov is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the U.S. Fire Administration.  This site contains resources for parents and fun and games for kids to learn about fire safety.

 

Welcome to the USFA's Kids Page: Where the Fun Starts!
The USFA -- the United States Fire Administration -- is part of the federal government. The kids page of their Web site, developed for kids in the early elementary grades, offers information on smoke alarms, home fire safety, and more. There are interesting facts, quizzes, games, and a test to pass in order to Become a Junior Fire Marshall. A hot button takes users to the Parent-Teacher Lounge, which includes lesson plans and other resources.

The Survive Alive Program
http://www.survivealive.org
Children aged eight and older can easily navigate this well-designed Web site. Users reach the Survive Alive Village from Tour the Survive Alive House on the main page. One of the tools for teaching fire safety is a simulated fire, and each room includes important fire-safety lessons. There is even an on-line club for kids.

Sparky the Fire Dog
Introduce your kids to Sparky, the official "spokesdog" of the National Fire Protection Association. Click on Sparky's News for current information and news about such events the October Fire Prevention Week. Kids can submit on-line questions to Sparky about fire education and other safety issues or learn about Dalmatians, fire trucks, and more.

 

N.Y. Department of State Kids' Room: Fire Safety
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/kidsroom/firesafe/firesafe.html

Hershey, a real-life arson dog, acts as the guide for this clever site. Arson dogs investigate fire sites after a fire has been put out, sniffing for unusual chemicals or other signs of arson. There are puzzles, coloring pages, and more. Some of the topics covered include Escape Rules in a Fire, Home Fire Inspection Checklist, Practicing Operation EDITH (Exit Drills in the Home), Kitchen Fires, Fireplace Safety Rules, and Holiday Safety Tips. The New York Department of State maintains the Web site.

Fire Safety: A Thematic Resource Unit
http://www.kinderkorner.com
Look here for songs and poems for Fire Prevention Week, ideas and activities for your students, and related library resources. The activities include songs, poems, and art projects. This is part of the Kinder Korner Web site, a resource site for teachers and others interested in early childhood education. Although the page has commercial elements, it provides useful suggestions for parents, teachers, and others looking for fire safety ideas for children from pre-K through second grade.

Family Fire Safety
http://www.parenthoodweb.com
This Web site offers excellent suggestions for fire safety throughout the house. Children can get involved in such projects as designing a fire escape plan or planning a visit to a local fire department. The ParenthoodWeb site also has other excellent health and safety resources.