A pot holder too close to a lit burner or a space heater left on overnight could be all it takes to start a home fire. In fact, cooking and heating are among the leading causes of home fires in the U.S., according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association.

That’s why the Villa Park Fire Department is teaming up with the NFPA from Sunday to Saturday, Oct. 5 to 11, to urge Villa Park residents to honor this year’s theme to “Prevent Home Fires” during Fire Prevention Week. This year’s campaign focuses on preventing all the leading causes of home fires — cooking, heating and electrical equipment and smoking materials.

The history of National Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred Oct. 8, 1871. The city of Chicago quickly rebuilt and within a couple of years residents began celebrating their successful restoration to memorialize the anniversary of the fire with festivities.

Intending to observe the fire’s anniversary with a more serious commemoration, the Fire Marshals Association of North America, the oldest membership section of the NFPA, decided that the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should be observed not with festivities but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.

The NFPA continues to make National Fire Prevention Week a priority and counts on the participation and efforts of tens of thousands of fire and safety professionals, emergency volunteers and other individuals working to reduce the risk of fire and the toll it takes on our society.

According to the latest research from the NFPA, more than 2,500 people died in home fires in the U.S. in 2006 and 12,500 were injured. Fire departments responded to 396,000 home fires, which accounted for 80 percent of civilian deaths and 76 percent of injuries that year.

Jamie Bickley is a public educator for the Villa Park Fire Department and said, “While the number of home fires is daunting, the good news is that many are easily preventable when residents take simple steps to increase their safety from fire. Whether it’s smoking outside the home, keeping space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, or staying in the kitchen when you are using the stovetop, there are easy things you can do to keep your home and family safe from fire.”

The Fire Department will hold a Fire Prevention Week Open House from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Fire Station 3, 1440 S. Ardmore Ave., just south of Willowbrook High School. Stop by and see apparatus and equipment displays, demonstrations by fire department personnel and K-9 search and rescue and flash over demonstrations. You can meet Sparky the Fire Dog and Freddy the Fire Truck, enjoy free refreshments and get free fire helmets, stickers, balloons, pencils and ribbons.

For more information, call (630) 833-5350.