October is National Fire Prevention Month, this is National Fire Prevention Week, and yesterday was National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day with flags flying at half-staff until sunset.
Fire Prevention Week is always the week that includes Oct 9th to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1876, which began Oct 8th, while Firefighters Memorial Day is traditionally the first Sunday of October.
Fire Prevention Week was first observed in 1922 and President Calvin Coolidge issued a proclamation in 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in the country.
This year’s theme is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,” and offers simple but important things people can take to keep themselves and other around them safe in the kitchen.
Many fire departments around the country use Fire Prevention Week or Fire Prevention Month to hold fundraisers. Among them is the Chadron VFD, which holds its annual Open House next Sunday at the Fire Hall.