News from New York State Department of State

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Governor Spitzer Issues Proclamation Announcing Fire Prevention Week in New York State

The Theme This Year is “Practice Your Escape Plan

ALBANY, NY (10/09/2007; 1033)(readMedia)-- Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez and State Fire Administrator Floyd Madison today announced that Governor Eliot Spitzer has issued a proclamation declaring October 7-13 as Fire Prevention Week in New York State. The national theme this year is “Practice Your Escape Plan.”

In his proclamation, Governor Spitzer noted that “a fire can engulf a home in as little as three minutes, leaving very little time to recognize what is happening as well as account for those, who are less able to act on their own such as children and the elderly.” This is particularly true at night when people have been asleep, and when lights have been turned off.

“In spite of significant improvements in fire safety over the years, fire deaths and injuries remain a major public safety issue. Because it will never be possible to prevent every fire, it’s important for people to know how they can get away from the fire as quickly as possible. That’s why this year, we are encouraging New Yorkers to plan their escape, so that they can act quickly, when fire strikes,” Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said.

“In 2006, there were 47,423 reported fires in New York State, resulting in 479 injuries and 84 deaths,” State Fire Administrator Floyd Madison said. “Having a clear idea of how to escape from a home can often make the difference between life and death.”

In order to establish an effective escape plan, fire experts say that members of the household should draw up a floor plan and identify at least two exits from each room, especially bedrooms. Children and the elderly may need special assistance, and so their location should also be taken into account in drawing up a plan. According to safety experts, people in a fire should not call the fire department from inside the home. Rather, they should focus on escape first. The plan should also include a designated meeting place outside of the home. In no case, should anyone ever go back into a burning building.

The proclamation was issued in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week in New York State, which occurs every year in early October, and promotes a particular fire safety theme.

The Office of Fire Protection and Control (OFPC) promotes fire safety through numerous activities and program. Since 2006, for example, OFPC fire inspectors have uncovered 122,760 fire code violations. They deemed 2,909 of these were severe or serious. Since 2006, the agency has also provided investigation technical assistance in the wake of 237 fires, which caused a combined 49 fatalities and property loss estimated at more than $65 million.

The agency also oversees the State’s Urban Search and Rescue team, which provides assistance in the event of emergencies such as building collapses and natural disasters, including floods. In January 2006, 60 people were rescued by this team from flood waters in Broome County. OFPC also provides a wide variety of training courses in areas including hazmat and WMD response, fire suppression techniques and technical rescue. Last year the agency provided training to 59,420 of New York’s emergency service personnel.

More information about “Practice Your Escape Plan” is available on the Department of State website at http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/firewww.html.

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