Seventy-eight per cent of deaths from fire occur in the home, with most of the fatalities taking place between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m, while occupants are asleep, according to statistics from Fire Prevention Canada.

That is why it is critical to develop an escape plan, because one needs to react quickly in case of a fire. It's also why this year's Fire Prevention Week comes with the theme, Have 2 Ways Out. When the smoke alarm sounds, everyone must know where to go. It's a plan that should be practised, too.

Fire Prevention Canada suggests that since the majority of fire deaths occur while people are sleeping, everyone should practise their plan at night as well, getting down on your hands and knees with a flashlight while crawling to safety.

Furthermore, testing your smoke alarm monthly and cleaning it every six months is a good way to ensure you are able to escape from a fire before it becomes deadly.

In Ontario, it's the law to have a working smoke alarm outside every sleeping area in your home. As of March 1, 2006, homeowners must also have at least one working smoke alarm in every storey that does not contain a sleeping area. This law applies to all single-family, semi-detached and town houses, whether owner-occupied or rented.

Greater Sudbury Fire Services kicked off Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9 at the New Sudbury Centre, where it will have fire equipment and information available to the public until Oct. 13.

Fire Prevention Week is a valuable tool in teaching children that dangers of fire, because statistics show that, on average, fire kills eight people each week in Canada, according to Fire Prevention Canada.