The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will be observing Fire Prevention Week with a packed week of activities which kicks off on October 9 with a church service at the Culture Ministry’s Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.
This year’s activities are being observed under the theme, “Practise fire safety for better and safer communities.”
Fire Prevention is described as any precautionary measure put in place to obviate the outbreak of a fire. 
The week marks the anniversary of one of the world’s worst conflagrations. The great Chicago Fire, which occurred on  October 9, 1871, claimed the lives of 250 persons and destroyed 17,430 buildings, leaving 100,000 people homeless.
In commemoration of this tragedy, October 9 was first observed officially in 1911 as Fire Prevention Day; and upon recommendations of the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), it was extended to one week in the United States and Canada.
In Guyana, subsequent to the amendment of the Fire Prevention Ordinance, the Fire Service in 1974 established a committee consisting of members of the GFS to plan and execute a public awareness programme during the week, which includes October 9. The week has since been observed annually. (GINA)