City of Yonkers to Observe National Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, 2024
Mayor Mike Spano and the Yonkers Fire Department announced the City’s partnership during National Fire Prevention Month (October) with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Smoke Alarms: Make them WORK for you.” This year’s theme serves to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.
“Smoke alarms are a critical, early warning of potential danger in your home,” said Mayor Spano. “During the year and specifically in the month of October, the City of Yonkers Fire Department plays a vital role in educating how protect our loved ones, neighbors, families and community. For our kids, this information stays with them as they grow into responsible adults.”
According to NFPA, three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
In 2024, the City of Yonkers Fire Department responded to 77 structure fires where approximately 80% had working smoke alarms, alerting the occupants to a fire in the building which allowed them to evacuate.
“Fire prevention and safety are day-to-day concerns. The month of October allows us to raise awareness and highlight the best way for our Yonkers residents to stay safe and aware in the event of a fire inside their homes,” said Yonkers Fire Commissioner William Fitzpatrick. “This month gives us an opportunity to highlight important programs and target our youngest residents, our children, so they know what to do in the event of a fire.”
The Yonkers Fire Department offers these recommendations for early fire detection:
· Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on each level of the home.
· Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
· Replace smoke alarms when they are ten years old or do not respond when tested
The Yonkers Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s FPW campaign including station house tours, curbside seminars at local schools and demonstration of the smoke trailer:
· School 22, 1408 Nepperhan Avenue (October 1 & 2)
· YMCA, 17 Riverdale Avenue (October 7)
· Paideia School 24, 50 Colin Street (October 8)
· Las Hermanas Mirabal Community School, 195 McLean Avenue (October 9)
· Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Avenue (October 9)
· Robert C. Dodson School, 105 Avondale Road (October 11)
· Kahlil Gibran School, 18 Rosedale Road (October 15)
· Yonkers School 16, 759 Broadway (October 16)
To find out more about FPW programs and activities in the City of Yonkers, contact the Yonkers Fire Department Office of Fire Prevention at (914) 377-7525. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and smoke alarms, visit www.nfpa.org.
