Portland Fire & Rescue is hosting free community Fire Safety Festivals in two different Portland neighborhoods during Fire Prevention Week. The first festival takes place Thursday, October 10 from 3 pm until 6 pm at Alberta Park, next to Portland Fire Station 14 (1905 NE Killingsworth). The second festival will take place on Saturday, October 12 from 11 am to 2 pm next to PF&R Station 11, at 92nd and Reedway (5707 SE 92nd).

The festivals will provide an opportunity for neighbors to gather, meet their local firefighters, enjoy some food, check out the fire apparatus, tour the stations, and participate in fun safety learning stations. Free hamburgers and hotdogs fresh off the grill will be provided to the first 100 visitors.

Interactive educational stations will help both adults and youth learn what to do in emergencies. A 911-simulator lets participants "call" in an emergency to test what they'd do under pressure; cooking fires will be ignited to show how to snuff them out in case of a real incident in your home; an interactive "hazard house" has participants hunting for home hazards; a smoke alarm display demystifies this powerful little tool that could save your life.

Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 9, 1871. This tragic incident killed some 300 people, left 100,000 homeless, and destroyed more than 17,000 structures. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first national Fire Prevention Day proclamation. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has officially sponsored Fire Prevention Week, honoring the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire and using the event to increase awareness of the dangers of fire. Fire Prevention Week is the longest running week-long safety education campaign for which Presidents have issued formal proclamations.

This year's Fire Prevention Week theme is "Prevent Kitchen Fires." Kitchen fires are the leading cause of home fires on both a state and national level. Also, many kitchen fire injuries occur when people attempt to control the fire but do not respond appropriately.

Who: Portland Fire & Rescue

When: Thursday October 10, 2013, 3 PM to 6 PM
Where: Alberta Park, right next to PF&R Station 14 (1905 NE Killingsworth)

Who: Portland Fire & Rescue

When: Saturday October 12, 2013, 11 AM to 2 PM

Where: Right next to PF&R Station 11, at 92nd and Reedway (5707 SE 92nd)

 

Contact Info: Lt. Rich Chatman PIO, media pgr: 503-940-6003