Melfort Fire Department to host Open House, once again

During the visit, there will be fire prevention items, materials to help families plan their escapes and meeting places, and the history of the fire department on display, with some past, some present and recruitment looking to the future.

Kids and adults will also have opportunities to try on Firefighter gear to see how heavy and hot it is, and also some hands-on experience with some of the tools they use, while the night will cap off with an auto extrication demonstration, which “everyone is always more than interested in watching,” according to Stewart.

Some of the big takeaways the Department hopes to cover are planning your escape route, testing your smoke and CO alarms, choosing an outside meeting place, making regular reminders regarding fire safety and most importantly practicing your home fire drill/escape plan, stating “every second counts.”

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

“It is important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape,” said Stewart. “Everyone needs to be prepared in advance so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different.”

“Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them. Fire can move extremely fast through a structure and depending on where the fire starts, you could have less than 2 minutes to get out safely from when the smoke detector alarms.”

Smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger. Smoke alarms need to be in every bedroom, outside of the sleeping areas (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of your home. Do not put smoke alarms in your kitchen or bathrooms.

Choose an alarm that is listed with a testing laboratory, meaning it has met certain standards for protection.

For the best protection, use a combination of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected throughout the home. These can be installed by a qualified electrician so that when one sounds, they all sound. This ensures you can hear the alarm no matter where in your home the alarm originates.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8

by Ben Tompkins

Melfort Fire Department to host Open House, once again

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