Fire Prevention Week begins

Oct. 6 to 12 marks Nunavut’s Fire Prevention Week.

Team Up for Fire Safety, the theme of the week, is a simple idea, says Community Government and Transportation Minister Manitok Thompson.

“Team up with the people with whom you live, work, play and worship, so that all of you will be better prepared to prevent or survive a fire,” Thompson said.

The National Fire Prevention Association states that more 85 per cent of all fires happen in the home and most are preventable. People should install and regularly test smoke alarms, practise home escape plans and identify and correct home hazards.

Fire prevention activity kits have been distributed to hamlets and schools throughout Nunavut.

The kits provide information on how to conduct a home fire safety inspection and how to develop a home escape plan. There are colouring contests for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 and Grades 4 to 6, a design contest for students in Grades 7 to 9 and an essay contest for students in Grades 10 to 12. The deadline for each is Oct. 18.