Having escape plan is this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme

MASON CITY — This is Fire Prevention Week. Mason City Fire Chief Erik Bullinger says this year’s campaign theme is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape: Plan and Practice Your Escape”.

 “This Fire Prevention Week campaign works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. Don’t forget about the little ones that help you do your exit drill in the home, they are heroes too, they bring that message home from school.”

Bullinger says you need to create an escape plan since people typically only have a short time to respond to a fire.  “A typical home fire, you obviously have less than a minute sometimes to escape safely from the time smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out. Please make your home escape plan.”

60-percent of all home fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms, while 50-percent of home fire deaths happen between the hours of 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM when most people are asleep.