Updated 9:50 a.m.

TOWN OF CARY TO KICKOFF National Fire Prevention Week THIS WEEKEND

This year’s message is practice your escape plan

CARY, NC – The Town of Cary is inviting everyone to join in the local celebration of National Fire Prevention Week by coming out to the Cary Towne Center Mall Friday, October 5 through Sunday, October 7. Cary Fire department, Police and emergency responders will kickoff National Fire Prevention Week, which runs October 7-13, with fire safety tips, games, food and more fun at the mall to highlight this year’s theme, “Practice Your Escape Plan”.

According to a National Fire Protection Association poll only two-thirds, or 66 percent, of Americans have an escape plan in case of fire, and of those, as many as 34 percent have not practiced it.  Also, 75 percent incorrectly believe they have up to 10 minutes before a fire turns deadly.  In addition, Cary’s most recent biennial citizen survey showed that nearly 55 percent of residents lack a plan for how to reunite should tragedy strike during work or school hours.

“This event is really an effort to encourage citizens to take the necessary steps to protect what is most valuable – their lives,” said Fire Education Specialist Kathy Ellis.  “It’s not enough just to have a home fire escape plan.  You need to practice it and make sure everyone knows exactly what to do.”

On Friday and Sunday, Cary Fire officials will be inside the mall at center court during the mall’s normal business hours to distribute informational brochures and talk with citizens on how to prepare an escape plan. Then, on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cary Police Department’s Citizens Assisting Police, Cary EMS, and representatives from the Wake County Safe Kid’s Coalition will join the Fire Department for a Safety Festival in the mall’s parking lot.  Once again, the Kid’s Combat Challenge will be the premiere event of the day with an obstacle course that includes an inflatable slide, a stop, drop and roll station, crawl low in smoke simulator, hose carry, Keiser ventilation simulator, dummy drag and house fire simulator.  Age groups for these participants are divided into three brackets: ages 4-6, ages 7-9 and ages 10-12 year olds.  All participants receive Survivor T-Shirts while they last and the winners in each age group will be awarded a trophy.

In addition to the Kid’s Combat Challenge, children can tour the Town’s Public Education Trailer and the Fire Safety House.  Kids can also get an up-close view of Cary Fire Department and Cary EMS vehicles and equipment during the event on Saturday.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 7 p.m., Cary citizens are encouraged to join in the “Great American Fire Drill.”  The goal of the fire drill is to get as many people as possible to practice their home fire escape plans on that night.

For more, visit the Fire Department section of the Town’s Web site at www.townofcary.org.

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