News Flash

The emphasis of this year's Fire Prevention Week is on ensuring that the smoke alarms in your home actually work!  

Supporting that important practice, the Liberty Lake City Council at its Oct. 1 meeting approved a city proclamation declaring Oct. 6-12 to be Fire Prevention Week in the city of Liberty Lake.  Here is the text of that proclamation ... which is filled with many worth-reading-every-line reminders about home safety:   

Whereas, the City of Liberty Lake, Washington, is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting Liberty Lake; and

Whereas, fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire; and

Whereas, home fires killed more than 2,700 people in the United States in 2022, according to the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), and fire departments in the United States responded to 360,000 home fires; and

Whereas, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or with no working smoke alarms; and

Whereas, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires almost in half; and

Whereas, smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger in the event of fire in which you may have as little as 2 minutes to escape safely; and

Whereas, Liberty Lake residents should install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home; and

Whereas, Liberty Lake residents will make sure their smoke alarms meet the needs of all their family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities; and

Whereas, Liberty Lake residents should test smoke alarms at least once a month; and

Whereas, residents who have planned and practiced a home fire escape plan are more prepared and will therefore be more likely to survive a fire; and

Whereas, Liberty Lake first responders are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education; and

Whereas, Liberty Lake residents are responsive to public education measures and are able to take personal steps to increase their safety from fire, especially in their homes; and

Whereas, the 2024 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you.,” serves to remind us the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

That the week of October 6-12, 2024, be designated as Fire Prevention Week throughout this city, and I urge all the people of Liberty Lake to make sure their homes have working smoke alarms and to support the many public safety activities and efforts of Spokane Valley Fire Department, serving the residents of Liberty Lake.

Dated this 2nd day of October, 2024.
Cris Kaminskas, Mayor