Fire Safety Events

Fire Prevention Week - Sun, Oct 8, 2023 – Sat, Oct 14, 2023

This year’s Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW™) campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™,” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions you can take to keep yourselves and those around you safe when cooking.

Did you know? Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.

What can you do? The good news is you can prevent most cooking fires and burns. Help keep your family safer with some simple but effective tips.
- Turn the pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Watch what you heat. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk of fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure you understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

On this site, you’ll find loads of educational resources to make sure that every person knows what to do in case of a fire. We have everything from apps to videos to printables and much more, to make sure you have the resources you need to keep your family, your community, and your city safe.
Who doesn’t love painting rocks!

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service (AFRS) is encouraging everyone in the community to help spread fire safety messages by painting rocks and placing them around the community. This is a fun activity to involve schools, families, and firefighters. As well, it will create lasting messages and reminders about fire safety!

What are Fire Safety Rocks?

All community members are encouraged to paint rocks with fire safety messages. The rocks are then to be placed around the community in public spaces (i.e. outside fire halls, along walking paths, in local parks, around school grounds, etc.).

Once you have painted and placed your rocks, please post your pictures of the rocks on your social media and tag #AbbotsfordRocks

What are the messages?
- Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape
- See Smoke, Stay Low & Go
- Smoke Alarms Never Sleep
- Know 2 Ways Out
- BE AWARE, Fire Can Happen Anywhere
- Fire Safety Starts With Me
- Stop, Drop & Roll
- Be Prepared, Not Scared
- Smoke Alarms Save Lives
- Practice Fire Safety Everyday
- Put a lid on cooking fires
- Matches/lighters are Tools NOT Toys
- Call 9-1-1 and Help Will Come
- Test Smoke Alarms Monthly
Help us keep Abbotsford safe from fire and spread the message about how to be safe and prevent fires!
- NFPA- Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety - Video
- Teacher’s Choice (game or activity from site) - Activity
- NFPA - I Spy Cooking Safety - Video
- Teacher’s Choice (game or activity from site) - Activity
- NFPA - I Spy Fire Safety - Video
- Teacher’s Choice (game or activity from site) - Activity
- NFPA - Every Second Counts in a Home Fire—Practice Your Escape Plan - Video
- Teacher’s Choice (game or activity from site) - Activity (pdf)
- Fire Smart - Ember's Story - Video
- Fire Smart - Ember's Matching Game - Activity
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the devastating Chicago fire that took place on October 8, 1871. It killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres.

The fire changed the way that firefighters and public officials in Canada and the U.S. think about fire safety. The Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Chicago fire should be observed in a way to educate the public about the importance of fire prevention. Fire Prevention Week was proclaimed in Canada in 1919 to commemorate the Chicago blaze, as well as the major fire that destroyed the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa on February 3, 1916.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) continues today to make National Fire Prevention Week a priority and they count on the participation and efforts of tens of thousands of fire and safety professionals, emergency volunteers, and other individuals who are working to reduce the risk of fire and the toll it takes on our society.

With tremendous help from fire safety advocates throughout North America, Fire Prevention Week continues to be a success each year.

Home Fire Sprinkler Week

A project of the NFPA " Fire Sprinkler Initiative" and "the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition".

National Burn Awareness Week

National Burn Awareness Week, the first full week of February, is a window of opportunity for burn care organizations, burn survivor support groups, public safety and injury prevention professionals to increase awareness among the general population of the frequency and causes of burn injury in America, and the advances in and sources of burn care available today.

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Fire Rescue Service

City of Abbotsford

Fire Prevention Week - Sun, Oct 8, 2023 – Sat, Oct 14, 2023

Home Fire Sprinkler Week

National Burn Awareness Week