Hams who rely on lithium batteries for portable operations and emergency communication may want to check into a special event next month that highlights safe use and charging practices for these batteries.

Radio operators in North America are activating for Fire Prevention Week, carrying this public service message from the 4th through to the 10th of October. All stations will have 1x1 callsigns with the N prefix and F suffix. The number in between will be for each of the ten US geographic call regions.

There are also two wildcard stations: KF2IRE in the US and VE3FIRE in Canada.

Anyone working ten or more of the twelve stations will be eligible for a downloadable certificate.

This is both a special event and an educational one and is scheduled each year to coincide with the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. That deadly blaze raged from October 8th to 10th of that year, destroying 17,000 structures, leaving 100,000 people homeless - and killing 300 people.