Fire Prevention Week runs October 3–9, 2027, a yearly reminder to check smoke alarms and plan an escape. The National Fire Protection Association started sponsoring it in 1922, and it’s now the country’s longest-running public health observance.
The Week of October 9
Every October, it fills the Sunday-to-Saturday week that includes the 9th. That meant October 8 to 14 in 2023 and October 4 to 10 in 2026.
October 9 ties it to history. The Great Chicago Fire broke out on October 8, 1871. Flames were still raging through the following day.
NFPA picks a theme and supplies materials. Local fire departments and the Red Cross carry the message into homes and classrooms.
From the Great Chicago Fire
Chicago’s fire was one of the worst in U.S. history. It killed more than 250 people and left 100,000 homeless, the Census Bureau notes.
It also destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned across more than 2,000 acres.
Remembering that loss became a safety campaign. NFPA began sponsoring Fire Prevention Week in 1922.
President Calvin Coolidge made it a national observance in 1925.
Why It Still Matters
Home fires remain deadly. In 2023, U.S. residential building fires numbered about 344,600, killing 2,890 people and injuring 10,400, the U.S. Fire Administration estimates.
Losses topped $11.2 billion that year.
Training reached far beyond firefighters in 2026. NFPA held an August webinar, “Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” to explain the thinking behind the theme.
Speed is everything. People may have less than two minutes to escape a home fire once it starts, the Red Cross warns.
Batteries were the focus in 2026. The theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” marked NFPA’s second year on lithium-ion battery fires.
Power tools, e-bikes and scooters often use those batteries, the Red Cross notes. NFPA’s campaign taught people how to charge them safely.
Firefighters do much of the teaching. About 404,000 civilians worked full-time as firefighters, inspectors and supervisors, Census data from 2022 show.
Local groups add hands-on help. In 2025, Red Cross volunteers installed more than 2,000 free smoke alarms in Southern Nevada and answered 265 home fires there.
Their workload doesn’t let up. By early October 2026, the same Red Cross region had already responded to 231 home fires and helped 885 people.
Since 2020, that chapter has answered 1,855 home fires and assisted 8,179 people, it said during the 2026 week.
Fire Safety Steps
Charging habits are an easy place to start. Use the charger that came with a device, and charge it on a hard, flat surface instead of a bed or couch.
Watch for warning signs too. Stop using any battery that swells or leaks. Strange smells, hissing and heat are bad signs as well.
Certification matters when you shop. The Red Cross suggests products tested by a recognized lab, such as UL.
- Test every smoke alarm and replace any that are 10 years old or older.
- Practice a home escape plan with two ways out of each room.
- Charge e-bikes and scooters outdoors when you can, never where they block an exit.
- Unplug devices once they’re fully charged, especially overnight.
- Talk through your escape plan with kids, including a meeting spot outside.
- If a fire starts, get out, stay out and call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sponsors Fire Prevention Week?
A nonprofit fire safety codes and standards group.
Why is it in October?
It marks the anniversary of a deadly blaze in Chicago.
Does the theme change?
Yes, though some topics run for more than one year.
When should I replace a smoke alarm?
Once it’s about a decade old, the Red Cross advises.