Fire Prevention Week 2017

The City of Urbana will observe Fire Prevention Week the Week of October 9th including various free family-friendly educational opportunities and activities. But first, some history...

History of Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week is on record as the longest running public health observance, according to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center. President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week on October 4-10, 195, beginning a tradition of the President of the United State signing a proclamation recognizing the occasion. It is observed on the Sunday through Sunday period in which October 9 falls, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began October 8, 1871, and did most of its damage October 9. The horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

The Peshtigo Fire, which also occurred on October 8th, 1871, 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 the blaze began when railroad workers were clearing land for tracks and unintentionally started a brush fire. The small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin suffered the worst damage - within an hour the entire town had been destroyed.

Those who survived the Chicago and Peshtigo fires never forgot what they'd witnessed. Both fires changed the way that firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. Nine decades of fire prevention education and observance have taken place in the United States, each year with a theme. The 2017 theme is: Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!

Urbana Observes Fire Prevention Week

The Urbana Fire Department will host a Family Night on Thursday, October, 12th as part of Fire Prevention Week 2017. Below are the details:

• When: Thursday October 12th
• Time: 5:30-7 PM 
• Location: Lincoln Square south parking lot near Tang Dynasty
• Details: From 5:30 – 6:15 enjoy free pizza and soft drinks then from 6:15 – 6:30 head to the south parking lot for a fire extinguisher demonstration follow by a live burn demonstration from 6:35 – 7:00.

For more information on the Urbana activities during Fire Prevention Week please call 217/384-2420.