Fire Prevention Awareness Still Important

Nova Scotians' commitment to fire prevention programs is being reflected in a drop in the number of fires in the province, according to the provincial Fire Marshal's Office.

The latest statistics available are for the period April 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999. They show fires caused 10 deaths and 29 injuries in the province, a substantial drop from 10 years ago, when there were 35 recorded deaths and 52 injuries.

"On one hand, we're really pleased to note that the number of fires is down. Obviously, that's because people are acting responsibly when it comes to fire prevention," said Public Safety director Bob Cormier. "On the other hand, even one injury is too many. We need to continue to be vigilant about fire prevention."

Today, the leading cause of fire deaths is cigarette-related accidents and the leading cause of fires is cooking equipment like overheated fryers or unattended pots on a stove.

To further reduce the number of fires, the Fire Marshal's Office is encouraging the public to brush-up on fire safety during Fire Prevention Week by visiting Fired Up At the Sportsplex from Oct. 12 to Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The Sportsplex is located at 110 Wyse Road in Dartmouth.

The event, presented by Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services, will showcase over 30 exhibitors, including provincial and regional fire service professionals and commercial fire protection companies.

The department's inspectors will be on hand to answer questions about smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and other fire prevention issues. The show also features many hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations throughout the weekend. It is appropriate for the whole family, and admission is free.

Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 7 to Oct. 13.