Updated at 12:48 p.m., Thursday, October 4, 2007
Fire prevention week seeks to save lives
Advertiser Staff
Citing increases of around 30 percent in the number of fire-related deaths, fire alarm calls, and dollar losses related to fires from 2005 and last year, state officials today proclaimed the week of Oct. 7 through 13 as Fire Prevention Week in Hawai'i."Fire is the most common disaster that threatened Hawai'i's residents each year," Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said.
Flanked by county fire chiefs from Honolulu, Maui, the Big Island and Kaua'i, Aiona issued the proclamation on behalf of himself and Gov. Linda Lingle at the state Capitol.
He said Island families can help bring down those increases and assist their county fire departments by developing and practicing home escape plans. He said studies have shown that when a home fire starts a family has less than two minutes to escape.
"Our research shows that people who develop and practice home escape plans are more likely to survive a fire," he said.
