October 1, 2025

COUNTRY Financial® Joins Fire Departments, First Responders, Safety Advocates, and Community Leaders in Raising Awareness for Fire Prevention Week

COUNTRY Financial is joining fire departments, first responders, safety advocates and community leaders to raise awareness during Fire Prevention Week beginning October 5.  The week serves as a focal point across the nation to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention and serves as a vital reminder of the importance of preparedness, education, and vigilance in protecting lives and property from fire-related incidents.

“Increasingly, insurance companies like COUNTRY Financial are embracing ways to partner with the community as partners in resilience,” says Jeremy Brewer, Vice President and Chief Product Officer Property and Casualty at COUNTRY Financial. “Helping to spread the word about risk mitigation techniques can prevent fires from ever breaking out in the first place – saving lives and protecting property and other valuables.” Typically, COUNTRY receives more than 1,600 fire claims each year.

For Fire Prevention Week 2025, the theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” It focuses on educating individuals, families and businesses about using batteries safely. The campaign focuses on the importance of buying, charging and recycling safety when it comes to lithium-ion batteries. Today, most electronics are powered by these batteries – everything from smartphones to computer tablets, headphones, toys and other household items.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) important safety tips to follow related to lithium-ion battery use include:

• Purchasing batteries only listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
• Stopping the charging of any lithium-ion battery once full.
• Using charging equipment only compatible with your device.
• Refraining from using your device if a battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.
• Having all repairs performed by a qualified professional.

You can learn more here: Celebrate NFPA Fire Prevention Week (FPW), October 5-11

In addition to greater awareness about lithium-ion batteries, a broader campaign for Fire Prevention Month is focusing on important fire safety tips such as:

• Installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
• Testing alarms monthly and replacing batteries at least once a year.
• Creating a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a designated meeting spot outside and practicing your escape plan at least twice a year.

For individuals, families and business owners, it is always a good idea to check in with your COUNTRY Financial representative to ensure your home insurance coverage is up to date. Additionally, clients should ensure they’ve prepared and completed a home inventory of their important possessions so that they are fully covered for all losses in the event of a major home fire. 

Media contact

carrie.skogsberg@countryfinancial.com