Fire prevention week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Fire began on October 8 but continued into October 9, when the most damage took place. In just 27 hours, this tragic conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.
The Great Chicago Fire was one of the major fires that changed the way firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (known today as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided to observe the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire in a way that would educate the public on fire prevention.
National Fire Prevention Week is always held during the week in which October 9th falls. This year, Fire Prevention Week was held from October 3-9, 2021, and this year’s theme was “Learning the Sounds of Fire Safety”. Several Huntington Beach Fire Department Staff have created videos on how to listen for these sounds including chirping smoke alarms, home safety visits, fire extinguisher use, and more! Watch our video playlist below!
