Photos: Fire Safety Awareness Week Launched

Good Morning,

Thank you all for attending

Each year, the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service celebrate Fire Safety Awareness Week during the month of October or early November and you may ask, “Why?”

During this time we join with many fire departments around North America, with the aim of increasing public awareness in regards to the importance of fire safety and prevention.

Have any of you boys and girls heard of the Great Chicago Fire which occurred in 1871? How about the adults? For the students, maybe that is something your teacher can tell you about when you get back to school.

The Great Chicago Fire happened over 140 years ago in 1871 and approximately 3 years after, in 1874, there was what is known as the Little Chicago Fire. In both fires there was a significant loss of life and property. Shortly thereafter, Chicago residents were unable to secure fire insurance until a council was formed. This council hired a New York City fire chief, who then reorganized the fire department in line with a military discipline, which is currently the structure of most fire departments, including ours here in Bermuda.

It wasn’t until the 40th anniversary of that Great Chicago Fire that an organization, currently known as the International Fire Marshals Association, began to observe the anniversary by ensuring that the public was educated on the importance of fire prevention; hence, Fire Safety Awareness Week.

Each year the President of the United States signs a proclamation proclaiming a national observance of Fire Prevention Week, and here in Bermuda we have our very own Premier to do the same.

There have been numerous themes throughout the years, ranging from, “Your Life, Your Property”, “Keep Fire In Its Place”, to “Fire Drills: The Great Escape”. In case you are wondering where the theme derives each year, it is a global theme that is set for all observances. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms Save Lives, Test Yours Every Month.”

Fire Safety and Awareness Week in Bermuda is also a time when everyone can share their appreciation for all of the brave men and women in the fire service, who risk their life and limb to protect the life and property of those experiencing emergencies within our community.

Our aim for this week is to help raise the awareness of the community of Bermuda in the importance of having your homes equipped with detectors in line with the theme which states Smoke Alarms Save Lives, Test Yours Every Month.

One of our future goals is to get out in the community, to share fire safety tips as it applies to them within their household. This year would be a great time to start as the theme embraces one of the basic methods of fire protection, smoke detectors.

The reality is that when fire strikes, your home could be engulfed in flames in just a few minutes. Having smoke detectors strategically placed within the home serves as one of the first lines of making the occupants aware of the presence of smoke, which then allows them to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm sounds.

During this week of activities, it is our intention to raise your awareness of having working smoke detectors in an effort to have both the home and the workplace equally equipped to protect you, your colleagues and your loved ones.

In closing, I invite you before leaving our grounds to have a walk about downstairs and interact with the firefighters who will be more than happy to assist you with any questions that you may have, and encourage you to take advantage of the fire safety literature that is available.

Our Fire Prevention Division is always ready and available to answer any further questions should you have them.

Please enjoy your visit and once again Welcome!

I would now like to invite the Premier and Minister of National Security, The Honorable Michael Dunkley to the podium to read the Fire Safety Awareness Week 2014 proclamation and officially open this week of activities.

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