FIRE PREVENTION WEEK '08 -- PREVENT HOME FIRES

This year's Fire Prevention Week will be observed in Saskatchewan from October 5 to 11, announced Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Darryl Hickie.

This year's theme, "Prevent Home Fires" focuses on the need for individual responsibility in making sure fires in the home are prevented.

"All of us, whatever our ages, can play a role with our families to make sure house fires don't happen," Hickie said. "But in case they do, families should have an escape plan that they practice regularly so that everyone can get out of the house safely."

Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Nearly half of all home fires start with the range or stove in the kitchen.

Saskatchewan experiences an average of 10 destructive fires every day, for a total of 3,948 annually. Of these, an average of 724 are residential fires. On average, a fire death occurs every 23 days in Saskatchewan, with 75 per cent of all fire deaths occurring in the home. Three out of 14 annual fire deaths are children.

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For more information, contact:

Judy Orthner
Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5883
Email: judy.orthner@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-2233