October 7, 2012, marks the start of National Fire Prevention Week. In the spirit of community outreach and raising awareness about fire safety, fire protection engineering firm, Harrington Group, Inc., has proudly donated 400 Sparky Fire Hats to the Gwinnett County Fire Department. These hats will aid the department in promoting their educational initiatives by helping get kids interested in fire safety. They’ll also serve as excellent reminders for kids of their participation in fire safety programs.

What Is Fire Prevention Week?

National Fire Prevention Week began as a way to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which, in just two days, killed more than 250 people and left 100,000 others without homes. Since its national instantiation by President Woodrow Wilson in 1920, the aim of Fire Prevention Week has been to keep the public informed about fire safety. Each year, this week is dedicated to national- and community-oriented education about preventing unwanted fires, using fire responsibly, and responding to emergency situations.

“Have 2 Ways Out!”

Fire Prevention Week always focuses on a yearly theme to help spread the word about different topics in fire safety. This year’s theme is “Have 2 Ways Out!” Educational outreach on this theme includes critical information about what to do in a fire emergency if your primary exit is either blocked or too hazardous to use.

Sparky’s Wish List

In addition to its own outreach initiatives this year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) launched a program called Sparky’s Wish List to help fire departments around the country get a hold of the fire safety education materials they need to run awareness programs at local schools and community events.

Through Sparky’s Wish List, local fire departments create a free, online registry of the educational materials they use for community outreach. Community members and local businesses can then purchase the requested materials through the NFPA, which sends them directly to the fire departments.

Giving Back to the Community

We believe it’s important for businesses to participate in their local communities. Harrington Group understands the necessity of public fire safety initiatives and is honored to support the Gwinnett County Fire Department in its educational efforts. For more information about National Fire Prevention Week, check out the NFPA website.

By Jeff Harrington, CEO and Founder of Harrington Group, Inc.