The second grade class of Beaver Local Elementary School filtered into the cafeteria at 9:30 Monday morning, eagerly slipping into the rows of benches next to their classmates. Eyes wide, ears open, the students chattered eagerly as they waited for Mr. Randy Snyder to begin speaking. Beginning with a collective “good morning”, the room quieted, the students all perched with an undivided attention, as Snyder addressed the room and began to discuss the topic of the morning with his audience, first introducing the slogan for the week- “Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out”.

The week of October 8th through October 14th is dedicated across the nation as National Fire Prevention Week. During the course of the week, schools and various community organizations are encouraged to promote and educate their students and general public on the proper procedures should an emergency occur, as well as required safety elements. Established in 1922 by President Coolidge, the week is scheduled annually in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire, in which the majority of the damage was raged on October 9, 1871. Unbeknownst to many, and hidden by history, the Great Chicago Fire was not the sole blazing disaster that ravaged United States soil that week. October 8, 1871, while marking the start of the Great Chicago Fire, also erupted the most devastating forest fire in American history- the Peshtigo Fire. While headlines were capturing the inferno blazing across the city of Chicago, as well as investigating peculiar legends of the blame being incriminated to a milking cow, 1.2 billion acres of Northeastern Wisconsin were being scorched in the conflagration. Both fires suffered significant losses of both life and property, and survivors muttered recollection of the terror and bravery that pulsed through their veins. However, the most significant outcome of both disasters remains a collective agreement among public safety officials across the nation- a change in the process of fire safety must be revised and distributed among the knowledge of the public. Thus, Fire Safety Day was drafted by President Roosevelt in 1920, in which was expanded to National Fire Prevention Week in 1922. As tradition, the standing President of the United States signs a proclamation recognizing and acknowledging the week of October 9th as a national observation.

Annually, Beaver Local Elementary School configures with the Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department in order to organize a program that will inculcate the students about the importance of public safety. This years theme, “Every Second Counts: Plan Two Was Out”, called out to the students to think of alternative methods of evacuating their homes in case of an emergency. “The front door”, “The back door”, “A window”, students called out as they collectively brainstormed possible exit routes that could be found in their homes. Following the discussion, the students were divided into groups to partake in the various activities all pertaining to fire safety. Students were able to become accustom and comfortable with the structure of fire safety through hands-on learning, through which they had the opportunity to tour one of the local fire trucks, as well as try on some of the gear worn by firefighters during their calls. “We want you guys to be comfortable with us,” stated Snyder during the discussion. Establishing a positive connection between the local firefighters and their communities also enacts good fire safety development, in which mutual trust is elevated.

With active and engaged learning, the students generated a sense of awareness and understanding of the topic at hand, as well as enacted in fun activities that brought them closer to their community. The importance of National Fire Safety Week is evident in that a conscious attention must be paid to a common emergency. By proper preparing and careful consideration of safety requirements, such as the possession and operation of a smoke detector, possible fears can be eliminated, and therefore replaced with a core of awareness. “It’s important so that you know what to do in case of a fire-” said second grade student Taryn Schwerha, “-you have to know how to get out.”.