Detroit Fire Department community events for the whole family will celebrate National Fire Prevention Week

Three community events to educate residents on fire prevention and safety
This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!”
DFD announces the launch of large-scale smoke alarm installation initiative
Mobile Fire Safety House, free pizza, music and special guests will join DFD to celebrate

The City of Detroit Fire Department (DFD) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to celebrate National Fire Prevention Week, which runs October 6-12, with three community-focused events to bring all generations together to learn how to prevent fires and stay safe. The week will kick off officially Sunday, October 6 in District 6 with a celebration at Patton Recreation Center, located at 2301 Woodmere, from 12-3 p.m., followed by events later in the week in Districts 1 and 3, on Detroit’s West and East Sides, respectively.

The theme of this year’s National Fire Prevention Week is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” and departments across the country will be working to educate residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes. According to the NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a house fire by more than half (54 percent). Roughly three out of five fire deaths nationwide happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

The Detroit Fire Department has installed smoke alarms for residents free of charge for years, but this year is announcing the launch of a large-scale smoke alarm installation initiative. Detroiters attending the Fire Prevention Week events will be able to sign up to have DFD come to their home and install three to five smoke alarms, depending on size and need. The only requirement is that you are a resident of Detroit. The first 30 who sign up for installation at each event will also receive a free fire extinguisher. Through this initiative, we plan to equip between 1000-1600 homes in the City of Detroit with working smoke alarms. If you can't make it to the Fire Prevention Week events, you can request smoke alarm installation for your home by calling DFD’s Community Relations Division at (313) 596-2900 or e-mail [email protected].

DFD’s Fire Prevention Week events will also feature Detroit Fire Department’s Mobile Fire Safety House, used for fire safety training, carbon monoxide detector giveaways, Hands-only CPR training, entertainment by the DFD Clown Corps, inflatables for the children, music, and even free pizza for residents.

“Connecting the resources of the Detroit Fire Department with the residents of our city is an essential part of our mission to protect and serve,” said Detroit Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms. “We are grateful to our sponsors and community partners for their contributions to making this year’s Fire Prevention Week a success, and I encourage all residents to come out and learn about the importance of working smoke alarms.”

The other two Fire Prevention Week events will be held:

Monday, October 7 from 4-7 p.m. at Engine 54, located at 16825 Trinity Street
Saturday, October 12 from 12-3 p.m. at Engine 56, located at 18601 Ryan Road

National Fire Prevention Week pic1 — Residents visiting a Detroit fire house during Fire Prevention Week 2023.

Prevention is essential

Last year in the City of Detroit, there were 1,872 residential house fires, many of which could have been prevented. Education around best practices is key to prevention. In 2023, the Detroit Fire Department’s Community Relations Division and Fire Marshal Division hosted hundreds of fire prevention and safety events across the city, reaching tens of thousands of residents of all ages. Thanks in part to this important work, 2024 has seen a 47% drop in fire fatalities year to date.

“Working smoke alarms can save lives, giving residents time to get out safely before our crews even arrive,” said Fire Marshal Donald Thomas. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign is a great way to remind our residents about the importance of working smoke alarms and make sure their home is ready in the event of an emergency.”

The Detroit Fire Department offers these key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

Fire prevention has many components

Not all fires happen in homes. The Plans and Exams section of the Detroit Fire Department, a division of the Fire Marshal’s Office, is responsible for analyzing all life safety and fire protection aspects of new construction, change of use, and major renovation for commercial building projects. The section works closely with the Building Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED), Planning and Development Department (PDD), Detroit Water and Sewage (DWSD), Health Department, and others to identify solutions to fire and life safety through planning and design.

The section approves projects to begin construction and modifications of design that comply with all national, state, and city codes/standards. This is a critical step for citizens to obtain permits and construct and occupy their buildings. From January 2023 through mid-September 2024, the Plans and Exams section has efficiently and effectively reviewed more than 3,000 plans for development and redevelopment projects in the City of Detroit. With continued expected growth throughout the city, this work is a vital component to keeping our residents safe.

National Fire Prevention Week pic2 — Resident learning Hands Only CPR during Fire Prevention Week 2023.

Thank you to our sponsors

Detroit’s Fire Prevention Week events are made possible by the hard work of the men and women of the Detroit Fire Department but wouldn’t be such a party without the generosity and cooperation of our sponsors and community partners. Target Corporation is the title sponsor of this year’s Fire Prevention Week. Their generous donation is being used to purchase fire extinguishers. Other key sponsors are Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS), Munoz Realty, Team Wellness, The Simoj Morgan Foundation, and the law firm of Fabian, Sklar, King & Liss, who donated 100 smoke detectors for the Detroit Fire Department to distribute to residents throughout the year.

National Fire Prevention Week pic3 — Community Relations Chief James Harris and Lt. Stacy Taylor opening boxes of smoke detectors donated by law firm Fabian, Sklar, King & Liss. The firm has donated thousands of smoke detectors to DFD over the years.

Detroiters love their pizza, and we are deeply appreciative of the continued support of Papa’s Pizza and Little Caesars to make sure none of our eventgoers go hungry!

The Detroit Fire Department has served the residents of Detroit for over 160 years, founded in 1860, and is recognized as one of the highest-ranking fire departments in the country. With code 1 emergency response times well below the national average, implementation of fire safety education, and enforcement of safety codes, DFD has saved countless lives throughout the City of Detroit.

Residents can access fire safety resources by going to any fire house in Detroit. To learn more about the Detroit Fire Department, go to detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-fire-department.