Fire stations hope to spark inspiration to make fire safety plans

It all started with the Peshtigo and Great Chicago fires.

On Oct. 8, 1871, a wildfire that had sparked in a forest outside of Peshtigo, Wis., burned about 1.2 million acres and killed about 1,200 people. The same day, a fire ignited in Chicago, leaving 300 dead; while the source was never determined, a cow knocking over a lantern had at one time been blamed.

Forty years after the event, Fire Prevention Week — this year from Oct. 8 through 14 — was started to serve as a remembrance to the lives lost that day and to teach the public, said Southern Manatee Fire Chief Brian Gorski.

“Ever since that time period, that’s when everyone realized about fire safety,” Gorski said. “That’s when standards came out for construction, fire safety, professional fire department standards.”

Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue’s Station No. 3 and Sarasota County Fire Deparment’s Station No. 5 will hold open houses for the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

This year’s fire prevention theme is “Every Second Counts — Plan Two Ways Out.” Fire departments suggest that households identify two different ways to exit their home, hold at least two fire drills per year and teach young ones how to get to safety on their own.

At Southern Manatee’s station, located at 7611 Prospect Road, firefighters will give live demonstrations with lifesaving equipment, attendees can experience what it’s like to be in a smoke-filled room and free educational materials will be provided.

In Sarasota’s station, located at 400 N. Beneva Road, there will be games, fire trucks and educational mascots Red E. Fox and Terry Telephone.

“Developing and practicing a home fire escape plan is like building muscle memory,” Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier said in a press release. “That pre-planning is what everyone will draw upon to snap into action and escape as quickly as possible in the event of a fire.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2017 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Fire stations hope to spark inspiration to make fire safety plans."