Lombard fire to hold open house Oct. 10 for Fire Prevention Week

LOMBARD, Illinois—The Lombard Fire Department will celebrate Fire Prevention Week (October 7-13) with an open house on October 10.

The open house will be held between 6:30 and 8:30 pm at Fire Station One, located at 50 E. St Charles Road. The Fire Department is inviting the public--young and old--to come in for a station tour, or just to meet the firefighter/paramedics. Safety information and light refreshments will be provided.

The message from the National Fire Protection Association for this year's Fire Prevention Week is “Have Two Ways Out.” The reality is that when fire strikes, residents' homes could be engulfed in smoke and flames in just a few minutes. It is important to have a home fire escape plan that prepares families and individuals to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm sounds.

“What if the first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames? That's why having two ways out is such a key part of a family's escape plan,” pointed out Jerry Howell, Assistant Chief of the Lombard Fire Department. This year's theme, “Have 2 Ways Out!” focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871. Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls.

For more information regarding Fire Prevention Week and home safety information contact Lombard's Bureau of Fire Prevention at (630) 620-5750 or visit The National Fire Protection Association website at: NFPA.org