The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and Joey Gase Motorsports are collaborating to emphasize the importance of fire safety for communities in Upstate New York. This partnership between NFPA, fire officials, and Joey Gase is a joint effort to promote the upcoming Fire Prevention Week (FPW), which will happen around October 6th to 12th. This year’s FPW campaign theme is “ Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you.” 

On September 12th, NFPA and Gase, joined by local and state public safety officials, will host the event at the Yard FLX go-kart track from 4 to 7 p.m. The area will be open to the public and area residents, who will have the opportunity to meet Gase and check out his race car on display. Some attendees will get the chance to race against Gase while the festivities are ongoing. 

Lorraine Carli, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA, said, “Our work with Joey has demonstrated the value and impact of delivering potentially life-saving fire safety messages to thousands of NASCAR fans and surrounding communities. Continuing our work together helps further these messages and maximize the reach and impact of Fire Prevention Week, our biggest public awareness campaign of the year.”

During the event, attendees will also participate in fire safety activities, highlighting the importance of working smoke alarms and having a home escape plan. This includes a fire safety house provided by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Also present will be the NFPA mascot, Sparky the Fire Dog, who will be on-site to greet the coming guests and take pictures with them. 

On Saturday, September 14th, at 3:30 p.m., NASA will sponsor Gase in a series of NASCAR race events, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the Watkins Glen Speedway.

New York State Fire Administrator James B. Cable said, “We are pleased to partner with NFPA on this family-friendly event. Helping educate the community about fire safety, especially in the home, can go a long way to prevent the devastation that can come with a fire.”

2024 Fire Prevention Week focuses on the importance of having working smoke alarms in our homes. According to a recent NFPA report, the leading cause of most home fire deaths in the U.S. is the lack of working or no smoke alarms in residences. NFPA’s latest smoke alarms report showcases how smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a fire by more than half. 

“It’s an honor to work with NFPA and help remind people that home fires can and do still happen and that they need to be prepared in the event of one,” said Joey Gase, owner and driver for Joey Gase Motorsports. “My hope in working together is that we can motivate people to take action around home fire safety, which includes taking simple but important steps like making sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes and testing them regularly.”

For more information, visit the official website of NFPA. 

If you enjoyed this article and want more valuable industry content like this, click here to read more articles! 

Source: NFPA