The Drumheller Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)—to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week TM (FPW), October 9-15, 2022.
This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape”, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.
“Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on an early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA.
The Drumheller Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme.
“It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance so they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different,” said Chief Derian Rosario. “Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure someone will help them!”
The Drumheller Fire Department wants to share these key home fire escape planning tips:
• Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
• Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.
The Drumheller Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.”, including Fire Department Open House Saturday, October 15 at the Fire Hall located at 224 Centre Street.
The Mail will be publishing special pages for Fire Prevention Week October 12, 2022.

A man, charged with weapons offences and breaching a court order for an incident in the Village of Carbon in December 2021, entered a guilty plea in relation to the weapons charge in provincial court in Drumheller on Friday, September 23.
The court heard how on the evening of December 1, 2021, an intoxicated female attempted to enter a private residence in Carbon. After talking with the woman, the homeowners learned she was staying at the Carbon Valley Motel and helped her get back safely.
Upon arriving back at the hotel, a man, later identified as 37-year-old Brad Nanninga, stepped out of a room holding what was believed to be an axe.
Drumheller RCMP were called and observed Nanninga in an apparent state of intoxication.
A knife was located in Mr. Nanninga’s pocket and this, along with the weapon originally identified as an axe, were seized; the second weapon was later identified as a knife with a three-foot handle attached to the blade.
It was determined Mr. Nanninga was in breach of a release order with conditions to not possess any weapons, or to have any contact with the woman the homeowners had walked back to the hotel.
The pair were arrested and Mr. Nanninga was charged with breaching a court order, and for weapons offences.
Crown prosecution asked for a 30-day global sentence, less any pre-trial custody, and ordered the knives seized be forfeited.
It was noted Mr. Nanninga’s entering guilty pleas and accepting responsibility were mitigating factors.
Remaining charges against Nanninga were withdrawn.