Fire Prevention Week Ahead

LABELLE, FLORIDA - Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services
Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that October 8th -
14th is National Fire Prevention Week - a time for citizens to think
about fire safety at home, at work and also when enjoying the
outdoors. "Florida's wildfire season lasts all year," Bronson said.
"Wildfires can occur during any month if rainfall is below normal."

In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge declared the second week in
October to be National Fire Prevention Week in remembrance of
Americans who died in two tragic fire disasters that ironically
occurred on the same day - October 9th, 1871. One was the Great
Chicago Fire, which destroyed 17,450 buildings, left more than
100,000 people homeless and resulted in almost 300 fatalities. The
second and lesser known Peshtigo Fire was the most disastrous
wildfire in North American history. Extreme drought conditions
throughout the Midwest at that time along with land clearing and
careless burning practices resulted in many small wildfires which
grew into a huge conflagration. Between 1,200 and 2,400 people died
in and around the small community of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and 1.5
million acres burned throughout northeastern Wisconsin and upper Michigan.

These two fire disasters were unnecessary tragedies that changed the
way our nation responds to both structural fires and wildfires, but
perhaps more importantly, prompted a renewed national campaign for
fire prevention. Bronson urged all Floridians to follow local burning
rules and regulations for all types of outdoor burning and to never
leave a fire unattended.

"Citizens can contact the local office of the Florida Division of
Forestry or their local fire department for information on how to
burn yard waste safely and legally in their area," Bronson said.
Since January 1st, 4,300 wildfires have burned 206,859 acres
throughout Florida. More than 3,967 threatened structures were saved
as a result of action by wildland firefighters.