Learning Through Literature about Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

This was one of the major fires that changed the way that firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety. On the 40^th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (known today as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.

Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. This is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

My Happy Homeschool is learning through literature about Fire Prevention Week with the following books:

 

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 (I Survived #11) by Lauren Tarshis

 

Stop Drop and Roll (A Book about Fire Safety) by Margery Cuyler

 

Fire Prevention Organization & Management by James Crawford

Happy Homeschooling!