Fire departments to test schools during Fire Prevention Week

National Fire Prevention Week begins Sunday, and area departments are reminding the public of the importance of having a plan.

Cape Girardeau fire marshal Brian Shaffer said starting Monday, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department will conduct drills in every public and private school in the city. He said covering all the schools takes about two weeks doing three drills a day.

"We test all schools, make sure to get all the students out within two minutes," Shaffer said. "They get a correct roll call or head count of all the students, make sure everybody's accounted for."

He said they conduct drills from day-care centers through high schools and Central Academy.

The Sikeston, Missouri, Fire Division takes part in a number of activities during Fire Prevention Week, giving presentations at local schools.

Firefighters bring trucks and equipment for the children to see while teaching them about fire safety, according to a news release from the city of Sikeston.

The Sikeston Fire Division recommends simple steps people can take to avoid fire: Don't leave cooking unattended, develop escape routes for the family, replace batteries in smoke detectors twice a year and have chimneys inspected before the first use of the season.

They also recommend keeping live Christmas trees watered and not overloading outlets with extension cords.

The theme of this year's National Fire Prevention Week, according to nfpa.org, is "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm." The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Fire Prevention Week started as a commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which started Oct. 8, the website states. The fire killed more than 250 people and left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 buildings and burned more than 2,000 acres.

Because most of the damage of that fire was done Oct. 9, Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the Sunday-through-Saturday period that includes Oct. 9, according to the site.

kwebster@semissourian.com

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1 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.