(Updated at 5:10 p.m.) The Arlington County Fire Department is celebrating Fire Prevention Week with its second department-wide open house this Saturday (October 14).
All 10 county fire stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and have activities and information on fire safety. Visitors can also climb the trucks, tour the stations and meet crews on duty.
For Fire Prevention Week, which began on Monday, ACFD had the slogan “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” to remind residents to plan a quick escape after their smoke alarm sounds. (Incidentally earlier this week a man nearly died in a house fire in Ashton Heights.)
ACFD had the following advice for homeowners to stay safe in a fire.
- “Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.”
- “Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home and practice using different ways out.”
- “Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.”
- “Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked on the outside and easy for the fire department to find.”
- “Close doors behind you as you leave to slow the spread of smoke, heat and flames.”
- “Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.”