Fire Demonstrations and Activities to Fill "A Night at the Firehouse" in Downers Grove

The Downers Grove Fire Department is hosing “A Night at the Firehouse” in connection with National Fire Prevention Week.

The fire department will open its doors to the public Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m at Station 5 on 6701 Main Street.

Firefighters will demonstrate automobile extrication, rescue techniques and a presentation of various uniforms and protective apparel worn by firefighters in a variety of emergency situations, according to a Downers Grove Fire Department news release.

Children are invited to slide down a real firefighter pole, and participants can use the department’s thermal imager to see how firefighters locate hot spots in a room.

A presentation of side-by-side burn rooms will demonstrate the effectiveness of residential sprinklers.

Here is the full list of attractions:

• “Masters of Disguise”: Firefighters will model the many uniforms they wear for various types of emergencies
• Automobile extrication demonstration
• Kids slide down a real firepole
• Learn What Fire Investigators Do
• Learn about Burn Prevention from Good Samaritan’s Emergency Room Nurses
• See images of yourself from a Thermal Imaging Camera
• Practice 9-1-1 calls with Downers Grove emergency dispatchers
• Meet the firefighters and climb aboard the equipment
• Practice escaping from non-toxic smoke at the Kids’ Firesafety Trailer
• Fire Prevention Information
• Liberty Mutual’s Wheel of Safety
• NiCor Natural Gas and Carbon Monoxide Safety
• Side-by-side burn rooms and residential sprinkler demonstration
• Visit with Freddie the Fire Truck
• Learn Basic First Aid Skills
• Bicycle Safety with the Downers Grove Police Department

Also in connection with National Fire Prevention Week, a parade will roll Oct. 10 around 7:15 p.m. at Main Street and Maple Avenue, according to a flyer.

This parade is a dedication to the firefighters and civilians who have died in fires.

The parade will begin in Hinsdale before moving west and ending at Route 53 in Lisle. It will feature department vehicles, with display lights but not sounding sirens, from several surrounding villages.

In Downers Grove, people can gather along Maple Avenue to watch the parade and pay tribute by holding a flashlight as the parade passes at about 7:15 p.m, according to the flyer.

A brief ceremony will officially close Fire PreventionWeek at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1101 Kimberly Way, Lisle, at about 7:45 p.m. Oct. 10.