Chances are you've heard about Mrs. O'Leary's cow and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. While recent research by historians has cast doubt on the fire being started by a lantern knocked over by a cow, a lasting outcome of the conflagration is Fire Prevention Week. Commemorated each year since 1922, Fire Prevention Week is observed the Sunday through Saturday period that includes October 9th...the day when most of the damage was done during the Great Chicago Fire.

The theme of this year's Fire Prevention Week is "Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years." While most homes, businesses and government buildings have smoke alarms they're not always well maintained and in some cases are obsolete. This year's campaign aims to drive home some important facts about smoke alarms, including:

- Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
- Make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home.
- To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.

To commemorate Fire Prevention Week, Croton Falls firefighters are visiting schools in town to teach children about fire safety. Over 400 students at Pequenakonck Elementary School spent time with firefighters on Wednesday, October 5th, and visits to the Westchester Exceptional Children's School, the North Salem Nursery School and the YMCA at United Methodist Church are scheduled on Thursday, October 13th and Friday October 14th.

If you have any questions about Fire Prevention Week, smoke alarms or fire safety in general, please contact the Croton Falls Fire Department at 914-669-5250.