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People more likely to die in house fire today than decades ago: Fire Chief

The North Grenville Fire Service asked council to proclaim October Fire Prevention Month. The request was made at the Committee of the Whole meeting last night.

Typically the fire service participates in Fire Prevention Week every October, but North Grenville wanted to take it one step further. Fire Chief John Okum says the National Fire Protection Association has reported you are more likely to die from a house fire today than a few decades ago.

Okum says newer homes do not hold up well under fire conditions because of lightweight construction materials and synthetics present in homes, such as furniture. He says this leads to early building collapse, and fires that burn faster and hotter.

Okum says placing a greater emphasis on fire prevention is key when it comes to educating the public.

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The theme for fire prevention this year is ‘Look. Listen. Learn. Be Aware. Fire Can Happen Anywhere.’ Okum says the theme reminds the public to look for places fires can start, listen for smoke alarms and learn two ways out of a room.

He says this simple message reminds people that fires still happen. In Ontario alone, there have been 70 recorded fire deaths so far this year.  

The final vote on proclaiming October Fire Prevention Month is set for Monday.

 

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