A huge focus during Fire Prevention Week is creating a plan in case of an emergency. 

Guthrie Center Fire Department Member Tom Reil says that having communication between the members in a household is important in case of a fire. He explains the best thing to do is create a plan and practice it once a month. 

“Starting with small children all the way through elderly adults, if that’s the case. So if something were to go off, you have smoke in the house or don’t have smoke in the house, you should go to a safe spot outside. So pick a safe spot outside that everybody needs to go to. That way, everybody’s accountable when you get there. So, for example, I have a mailbox out at the edge of my driveway that is our safe spot. We all meet at that mailbox.”

He adds having a meeting place makes it easier to tell emergency agencies how many household members are still in danger. Fire Prevention Week is from October 9 through the 15th.