The 100th Anniversary of Fire Prevention Week Spotlights the Importance of Fire Escape Planning: Local SERVPRO disaster remediation specialist offers property owners critical fire survival resources and answers fire damage FAQs

During the week of October 9, 2022, the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) observes the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week™, the longest-running public health observance in the United States. The timing of the annual event commemorates the date of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land. 

In support of this year's theme for Fire Prevention Week - "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape™" – fire and water cleanup and restoration specialist Ryan Wolfe of SERVPRO® of Lawrence, Owen, Greene & Martin Cos., reminds local home and business owners that the single most important thing to do when fire breaks out is to get out of the building. "This is especially true in a home fire," says Wolfe. "The NFPA warns that today's homes burn faster than ever, leaving residents two minutes or less to safely escape a home fire after the smoke alarm sounds."

According to the NFPA, your ability to escape from a fire depends on two things: early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning. Their Fire Prevention Week website (https://www.nfpa.org/fpw) offers information and resources in English and Spanish to help property owners choose and maintain a smoke alarm, plan an escape route, and ensure that every person, including children and the elderly, knows what to do in case of a fire.

If your home is affected by fire, says Wolfe, the next challenge you face is cleanup and restoration. "This is where a disaster remediation specialist like SERVPRO can help," says Wolfe. "Our website offers answers to FAQs that can help you understand what you should do first after a fire, how the fire repair and restoration process works, and more. Even small fires or neighboring fires can cause extensive damage to walls, ceilings and contents in a home, so it's best to check with a professional to see if remediation is the way to go."

Additional fire-related frequently asked questions covered include:

1. What items can survive a house fire?
2. Can smoke damage be removed?
3. How much does it cost to fix a fire damaged house?
4. How to clean after fire damage?
5. What should I do with all the water that was used to put out the fire?
6. How to recognize and deal with smoke damage even if your home hasn't been directly impacted by fire?

SERVPRO specializes in fire and water cleanup and restoration services and repair services, helping to remediate damage for both commercial and residential customers. For more information about SERVPRO, please visit www.servpro.com/. For more information on SERVPRO in the Hackensack area, please contact please contact one of the local business owners below.


SERVPRO specializes in fire and water cleanup and restoration services and repair services, helping to remediate damage for both commercial and residential customers. For more information on SERVPRO of Lawrence, Owen, Greene & Martin Cos., please contact Ryan Wolfe at (812) 275-2244 or [email protected]. For more information about SERVPRO, please visit www.servpro.com/.