MARSHALL, Minn. — Marshall residents are being encouraged to participate in a community-wide fire safety drill Sunday, October 4 at 7 p.m., as Fire Prevention Week gets underway.
Fire Prevention Week runs October 4-10 this year and is organized by the National Fire Protection Association. The 2026 theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower,” with a focus on safely charging devices powered by lithium-ion batteries.
The local drill will give households an opportunity to practice an E.D.I.T.H. plan, or Exit Drills In The Home. Residents should identify two ways out of their home and choose a safe meeting place outside.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, participants are asked to gather at their meeting place and turn on their outside lights. Firefighters will drive through neighborhoods with lights and sirens to see how many households are taking part.
Fire Prevention Week also provides an opportunity for residents to review other home fire safety measures. Fire officials recommend testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly and making sure alarms are replaced when they reach the end of their service life.
People are reminded to replace smoke alarms every 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms every five to seven years, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Alarms should be tested monthly, batteries changed twice a year, and any alarm with a missing or expired date should be replaced.
The 2026 Fire Prevention Week campaign also encourages people to use safe charging practices for rechargeable devices, including following manufacturer instructions and using appropriate charging equipment.
