Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed during the week in which October 9 falls.  Historically, October 9 marks the date of two very devasting fires.  The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 is probably the most well-known.  Remember the account of Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicking over a lantern in the barn?  This horrific incident killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.  An even more devastating fire occurred the same day in Northeast Wisconsin, leveling 16 towns and destroying 1.2 million acres.

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You can also obtain more safety information from the Department of Homeland Security

Kids:   check out  Sparky the Fire Dog  and  Pedro Penguin and  Disaster Preparedness from Disney

Also for kids - visit out  "Just for Kids" page located under the "Public Safety" menu item.