Crime & Safety
Fairfax County Fire Stations to Host Open Houses for Fire Prevention Week
Fire stations across Fairfax County will open their doors to the community to educate residents about fire safety.
By Sherell Williams
Oakton residents will have an opportunity to tour area fire stations during an open house event on Saturday, Oct. 12 for Fire Prevention Week.
Fire Prevention Week lasts from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12. All fire stations in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will host open houses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oakton has several nearby fire stations including: Station 34 on 10511 Rosehaven Street in Fairfax and Station 2 on 400 Center Street S.W. in Vienna.
The theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week is "Prevent Kitchen Fires." Displays and other activities will educate residents about fire safety, preventing home fires and treating fire injuries, according to a news release from the department.
Oakton residents will have an opportunity to tour area fire stations during an open house event on Saturday, Oct. 12 for Fire Prevention Week.
Fire Prevention Week lasts from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12. All fire stations in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will host open houses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oakton has several nearby fire stations including: Station 34 on 10511 Rosehaven Street in Fairfax and Station 2 on 400 Center Street S.W. in Vienna.
The theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week is "Prevent Kitchen Fires." Displays and other activities will educate residents about fire safety, preventing home fires and treating fire injuries, according to a news release from the department.
In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department released the following facts about fire:
- In 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to 370,000 home structure fires. These involved 13,910 civilian injuries, 2,520 civilian deaths, $6.9 billion in direct damage.
- On average, seven die in U.S. home fires every day.
- Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, followed by heating type fires. Smoking is a leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.
- Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen.
- Unattended cooking is a factor in 34 percent of reported home cooking fires.
- Ranges accounted for 58 percent of home cooking fires. Ovens accounted for 19 percent.
- The leading factor contributing to heating equipment fires was failure to clean, primarily creosote from chimneys.
- Portable heaters, including wood stoves, were involved with one-third of home fires.
- Almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires with no working smoke alarms.
To learn more about fire prevention, go to www.firepreventionweek.org.
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