Buffalo, New York – Mayor Byron W. Brown and Fire Commissioner William Renaldo announced today that the Buffalo Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape™”, reinforcing the critical importance of developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly. In addition, this October represents the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, the nation’s longest-running public health observance on record. To learn more, Mayor Brown also encouraged residents and families to attend one of the 5 scheduled Fire House Open Houses in Buffalo.

“It’s important to mark this milestone anniversary in Buffalo by hosting a number of Fire House Open Houses in neighborhoods citywide, that highlight our continued effort to reduce the public’s risk to fire,” stated Mayor Brown. “The Buffalo Fire Department’s continued commitment to the safety of our City residents and business owners is greatly appreciated. With a focus on developing a home escape plan, I encourage children and their families to visit an open house, where they will receive life-saving safety tips and other important information. We all know that the best way to prevent injury and property loss due to a fire is to be prepared.”

Below is a list of October 2022 Fire House Open Houses in Buffalo:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2022

ENGINE 21 / LADDER 6/RESCUE 1/ 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

1229 Jefferson Avenue & Kingsley

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2022

ENGINE 36 / NOON – 1:30 PM

860 Hertel Avenue

ENGINE 37 / 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

500 Rhode Island Street & Chenango

ENGINE 4 / 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

939 Abbott Road & Hollywood

ENGINE 23 / 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

3226 Bailey Avenue

The Buffalo Fire Department encourages all City residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme. Following are key messages behind this year’s “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape” theme:

• Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
• Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

Fire Commissioner Renaldo stated, “Anyone who has worked in the Fire Service for any length of time knows the important role Fire Prevention plays in helping to avoid injury and death in the event of a fire. Every year nearly 4000 people die, and over 2000 are seriously injured in the U.S. It takes only 3 and a half minutes for the heat from a house fire to top 1100 F, and having functional smoke detectors in your home more than doubles a persons chance for survival. I welcome everyone to stop by one of our several Open Houses, see and hear our safety message, meet our team of dedicated Firefighters, and participate in the many fun, and educational activities and events we have planned”

Join Mayor Byron W. Brown, Fire Commissioner William Renaldo and members of the Buffalo Fire Department for a fun-filled month of Fire Safety! To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Buffalo, go to www.buffalony.gov or contact the Buffalo Fire Departments Fire Prevention Bureau at (716) 851- 5333 extension 752.