Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. On its 40th anniversary in 1911, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (FMANA), the oldest membership section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), sponsored the first National Fire Prevention Day, deciding to observe the anniversary as a way to keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. In May of 1919, when the NFPA held its 23rd annual meeting in Ottawa at the invitation of the Dominion Fire Prevention Association (DFPA), the NFPA and DFPA both passed resolutions urging governments in the United States and Canada to support the campaign for a common Fire Prevention Day. This was expanded to Fire Prevention Week in 1922. The non-profit NFPA, which has officially sponsored Fire Prevention Week since its inception, selects the annual theme for Fire Prevention Week.

When President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week on October 4 - October 10, 1925, he noted that in the previous year some 15,000 lives were lost to fire in the United States. Calling the loss "startling", Coolidge's proclamation stated: "This waste results from the conditions which justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater part of it could and ought to be prevented... It is highly desirable that every effort be made to reform the conditions which have made possible so vast a destruction of the national wealth".

In Canada, the earliest known provincial proclamation of Fire Prevention Day was by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council of Ontario in 1916. The first national Fire Prevention Day proclamation was issued by the Governor-General in 1919.  Fire Prevention Week was first proclaimed by the Governor-General in 1923. Fire Service Recognition Day was first incorporated into the Governor-General’s proclamation of Fire Prevention Week in 1977.

The Prince Albert Fire Department celebrates Fire Prevention Week by having a display booth set up in the Gateway Mall during the week to provide the citizens of Prince Albert with fire safety materials (coloring books etc. for the kids and educational pamphlets for adults). As well, we focus on fire hall tours for the general public during the week. In 2011 the Fire Prevention Week safety slogan was “Protect Your Family From Fire.”

The Prince Albert Fire Department participates in safety events throughout the city each year. These range from safety BBQs sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to high school safety fairs. We are very proud to participate in any safety orientated activities that may help benefit the citizens of Prince Albert.

The Prince Albert Fire Department regularly provides Fire Safety presentations to Seniors in our community. These presentations are specifically designed to provide tools and information that can be used in day-to-day living for our aging population. For information, or to request a Fire Safety Presentation, please contact the Fire Department at 953-4200.