Fire Protection Week
The Statesboro Fire Department has announced that this week — Oct. 9-15 — is Fire Protection Week, and that this is the 100th anniversary of the occasion.
For the 100th anniversary of Fire Protection Week, the Statesboro Fire Department says that the theme for this year's campaign is “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.™”
Fire Protection Week began back in 1922. It was created to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which was a tragic inferno that took over 250 lives and left 100,000 people homeless back in October 1871, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website.
Fire Prevention Week is observed annually in the hope of preventing similar tragedies from occurring going forward.
This year's focus for Fire Protection Week is specifically on having a fire escape plan and practicing it, according to NFPA website.
The Statesboro Fire Department has offered the following tips for creating an effective escape plan:
- Make a labeled map of your home showing all rooms and exits.
- Mark two possible exits from each room and a path outside from each.
- Mark a place outside your home as a designated meeting point for everyone upon exiting.
- Add 911 to the plan and call once everyone is safely outside.
- Practice the plan twice per year.
In addition, the Statesboro Fire Department also recommends that households ensure that their smoke alarms are sufficient and properly functioning.
The Statesboro Fire Department says that it offers a no-cost smoke alarm program for Statesboro residents. For more information on the program or to schedule an appointment, residents can either call 912-764-3473 or go to statesborofd.com.
For more information on Fire Protection Week, check out the NFPA website.
Cancer awareness cause
For the month of October, the Statesboro Fire Department has announced that it will once again be selling it's annual Cancer Awareness duty t-shirts to raise money and awareness in the fight against cancer.
This year, proceeds from the t-shirt sales will be donated to the Statesboro-Bulloch County Breast Cancer Foundation, as well as Calvin's Crew.
Calvin's Crew is a community group that was started when one of the Statesboro Fire Department's own firefighters — Calvin Hitchcock — was unfortunately diagnosed with multiple forms of cancer.
The Statesboro Fire Department says that Hitchcock is currently battling Multiple Myeloma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Calvin's Crew is dedicated to supporting Hitchcock's family — his wife and two children — during his fight against cancer.
Adult shirts can be purchased for $20, while youth shirts are selling for $15. To purchase a Cancer Awareness duty t-shirt and to support a great cause, click here.
