Fighting a Fearful Foe: October is National Fire Prevention Month

October 29, 2025

One of the longest celebrations we have highlighted so far is this one, founded in 1922 as a week-long event, by the National Fire Protection Association. For more than a century, dedication to an ounce or prevention equally more than a pound of cure, has proven important. While fires occur regularly, as evidenced by everything from large multi-station fire departments in large cities to small town volunteer brigades, still prevention is key to reducing those possibilities.

U.S. Rubber Company employees work on and display rubber fuel liners for the B-24 Liberators, Indianapolis, 1944 and 1943. IHS, P0569 (cropped).

While we commonly think of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers as fire prevention, there are other items that are used for it depending on circumstances. According to research done by our digitization department staff, the above images show self-sealing aircraft fuel tank liners, which prevented explosions and fires if fuel tanks were ruptured by anti-aircraft fire in battle. Developed by the U. S. Rubber Co, they could be retrofitted in fuel tanks already installed in aircraft. If bullets penetrated the fuel tank, the rubber would seal the hole to prevent fuel leakage, which could catch fire. These liners were made for the B-24 Liberator; an image of the plane can be seen in the background of the picture on the left.

City-County Building, Indianapolis, 1970. Transcripts from the radio show “Like It Is” about a new Fire and Smoke Alarm system being installed at the City-County Building, Indianapolis, May 17, 1981. IHS, P0607 (cropped); IHS, M1514 (cropped).

Pictured above in 1970 is the Indianapolis City-County building, which was completed in 1962. In 1981, Ron Reinking, the building manager there, was interviewed on the WTLC radio show, “Like It Is,” to talk about the new state-of-the-art fire and smoke alarm system being installed. To hear this discussion, check out the audio from that report at minute marker 26:30 in our digital collection. Fire prevention is important for all buildings, but especially when dealing with skyscrapers like the one shown.

Camp Atterbury’s (Johnson County) Fire Department was honored by Gov. Schricker for their prevention activities, Indianapolis, 1944; The Diamond Chain Company’s employees learn about safety and use of extinguishers in the plant, Indianapolis, 1951; “Cowboy G-Men,” Jackie Coogan and Russell Hayden visited Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, 1953.

Prevention is generally left to homeowners and building managers to achieve. However, these goals cannot be met without the help of those with important knowledge to share on the subject. Whether it is a Fire Department being honored for their fire prevention activities, a demonstration of fire suppression equipment for employees at a factory, or talking to kids about the importance of fire safety, all make up the pieces to the puzzle to help prevent fires. Even today, kids are often visited at their schools by local fire departments throughout elementary and middle school to help understand prevention, and plan escape routes and other factors if a fire happens. They are probably more regularly exposed to this information than adults, but we should all be cognizant of fire prevention, checking our smoke detectors, fire suppression options (extinguishers or fire blankets), and more in our home and workplaces.

Help yourself this National Fire Prevention Month and make sure your family is prepared! Don’t forget to check out the previous months’ celebrations and other blogs on the IHS blogsite.

Amy Vedra is the director of reference services. As an avid reader, she reads as many books as possible annually (all books count: audio, e, and print)!

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