Fire Prevention Week

Rocky Mountain Fire works hard to bring meaningful programs and services to the citizens we serve.  Every October we recognize Fire Prevention Week.  Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  This conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100.000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2000 acres.  The fire began on October 8, and continued in to October 9, 1871.  According to popular legend, the fire started when a cow, belonging to Mrs. Catherine O’Leary kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn on fire, then the whole city on fire.

These fires 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 decided the anniversary should be observed in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.

In 1920 president Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation.  Since 1922 Fire Prevention Week has been observed the week of October 9.  Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

At Rocky Mountain Fire our goal for Fire Prevention Week is to educate children, and by extension their families, about fire prevention.  Most fires are preventable, and we want to reduce the number of fire tragedies in the communities we serve.  Every year we present a different theme for Fire Prevention Week. 2008’s theme was Prevent Home Fires. Our Crews visited every classroom in our district, teaching 4800 students how to avoid hazards that cause house fires. Visit this web site for the announcement, and for important fire safety tips.