Calgary,
12
October
2022
|
10:30
America/Denver

Calgary Fire Department appoints Junior Fire Chief to act as Calgary’s safety ambassador for 2022 - 2023

Sparky hugging child

Brody Quinn, age 11, was named Junior Fire Chief in a ceremony today at Varsity Fire Station 17. Chief Dongworth made the announcement and presented Brody with a fire helmet and special certificate honouring his appointment.

Each year during Fire Prevention Week, the Calgary Fire Department appoints a Junior Fire Chief to act as Calgary’s fire safety ambassador. This program has been running since 2016 in partnership with the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Brody’s duties will include promoting this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.”, which shares the importance of planning and practicing how to escape your home in the event of a fire. As part of Quinn’s first day, he went for a ride in a fire engine and had lunch with the crew at Varsity Fire Station 17.

“Brody will be a great ambassador for the Calgary Fire Department. He’s already active in his community and has expressed an interest in becoming a firefighter. We can’t wait to attend community events with him and support him as our Junior Fire Chief.” said Chief Dongworth. “Our partnership with Alberta Children’s Hospital has made this program such a big success. We thank them for their continued participation and for introducing us to Brody.”

“We are happy to be resuming the partnership between the hospital and Calgary Fire Department to select a child for the Junior Fire Chief program.” said Sandy Baggott, Child Life Lead for the Alberta Children’s Hospital. “The program helps to promote important initiatives around both safety and leadership.”

During Fire Prevention Week, running from October 9 - 15, 2022, the Calgary Fire Department advises Calgarians that having working smoke alarms and a well-practiced escape plan are critical for getting out of your home safely. They advise:

  1. Fire moves fast. You have less than 2 minutes to get out if there is a fire in your home.
  2. Draw, plan and practice your home escape plan at least twice a year with everyone that lives in the home, including small children. Your plan should include two ways to get out of every room as well as a designated meeting place outside, far from your home. Practice crawling to the exit points as if there is smoke and share your plan with any overnight guests.
  3. Make sure everyone in your home recognizes the sights and sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and knows how to get out.
  4. Once outside, go to your designated meeting place and call 9-1-1. Never go back inside. A firefighter will retrieve pets or special items.

Fire Prevention Week is held annually by fire departments across North America. This year marks the 100th Anniversary of Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Day was proclaimed in Canada in 1919 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, as well as a major fire that destroyed the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa on February 3, 1916. Fire Prevention Day was extended to Fire Prevention Week in 1922.

To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit calgary.ca/firepreventionweek.