FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sonoma County Fire District Open Houses

October 11, 2022 – The Sonoma County Fire District is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)—to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week TM (FPW), October 9-15, 2022. This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape TM”, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.

The Sonoma County Fire District is hosting two open houses as a grand finale to end Fire Prevention Week on Saturday, October 15th. From 10 am to 2 pm. The open houses will be held at Station 3 – Windsor (across from the high school), 8600 Windsor Rd. and Station 7- Forestville, 6554 Mirabel Rd.  This FREE family fun event will include free NOAA Weather Radios, free hot dogs and refreshments, a visit from our new helicopter Sonoma County 1, firefighter equipment and apparatus demonstrations, a junior firefighter challenge course and booths and vehicles from our public safety partners.

“This is such an important event for our community, it gives us the opportunity to open our doors and welcome you all in to meet your local first responders and get valuable safety information.  We plan our open house each year to coincide with Fire Prevention Week. Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes, or even less time, to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance family planning,” said Fire Marshal Cyndi Foreman.

The Sonoma County Fire District encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme.  “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape. ™”

“It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different,” said Karen Hancock, Community Outreach Specialist. “Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!”

Sonoma County Fire District wants to share these key home fire escape planning tips:

·         Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

·         Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.

·         Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.

·         Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.

To find out more about our Open Houses, please contact Karen Hancock, Community Outreach Specialist at 707-892-2445, email khancock@sonomacountyfd.org and check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention in general, visit fpw.org and sparky.org.