Today, the association announced the theme for the 2008 campaign: "It's Fire Prevention Week – Prevent Home Fires! " In the United States, eight out of 10 people killed in a fire die in one that has occurred in a home.

During the week of October 5-11 and throughout the month, the public is urged to take steps to protect themselves and their homes by learning about how to prevent home fires and taking action.

NFPA's newly launched 2008 Fire Prevention Week Web site (www.firepreventionweek.org) offers safety tips, statistical information, and many other resources.

Materials can be used by fire departments, teachers, families and anyone else interested in learning about how to prevent home fires or looking for resources to help teach others.

More than 2,500 people were killed in the nearly 400,000 home fires that fire departments responded to in 2006. These fires injured 12,500 people and were responsible for almost $7 billion in direct property damage. The two leading causes of home fires are cooking and heating equipment.

Fires that involve smoking materials and heating equipment are the leading cause of home fire deaths.

NFPA has taken the lead in public fire safety outreach by serving as the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for 86 years.

The annual public awareness and safety commemoration, which is proclaimed by the President of the United States each year, is observed by fire departments in the U.S. and Canada to mark the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.