Clearview, Wash. – Snohomish County Fire District 7 invites residents to kick-off Fire Prevention Week at its Annual Open House. The 29th Annual Open House will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 5 at Fire District 7 Headquarters (8010 180th St. SE, Snohomish). This free event will include auto extrication demonstrations, tours of the fire safety trailer, fire engine tours and much more!

Fire District 7 is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11, to remind residents that working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a fire. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!"

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

"In a fire, seconds count," explained Public Educator Autumn Waite. "Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out."

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
• Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

To learn more about smoke alarms visit NFPA’s website at www.firepreventionweek.org.