Fire Prevention Week/ Open House in East Meadow

The East Meadow Fire Department will once again open its doors to the public for its Annual Fire Prevention Open House, which will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Fire Headquarters, 197 East Meadow Avenue. The free annual event kicks off National Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!™”, which calls attention to the importance of working smoke alarms in the home.

According to fire safety experts, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54 percent). Sadly, three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

“Smoke alarms serve as the best line of defense in a home fire, but they need to be functional to protect people,” said Commissioner John J. Priest, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign will help to educate our neighbors about simple but vital steps they can take to ensure their homes have smoke alarms in all necessary locations and that they’re working properly.”

All residents are invited to attend the EMFD’s open house, which allows guests to see the firefighting and emergency medical services apparatus and equipment that the all-volunteer East Meadow Fire Department uses in the course of their duties protecting the public. There will be live demonstrations, including a simulation of a stove fire (with tips on what to do in case of a stove or other fire in the home), and numerous fun and interactive activities for the kids, including a ride on a real fire truck.

“We cordially invite all our neighbors to the annual open house to meet the men and women volunteers of the EMFD and learn about what they do to help their community by providing essential firefighting, rescue and emergency medical services,” said Commissioner William J. Neill, Vice Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners. “And we’re always looking to recruit community-minded residents to join our ranks, either as firefighters or emergency medical service volunteers.”

The East Meadow Fire Department, which covers East Meadow and parts of Levittown and Westbury (Salisbury), always looks for new members to join their ranks as firefighters or emergency medical personnel; no experience is necessary. The fire department provides the training required. There are numerous benefits associated with volunteering, including tax breaks, college scholarships, annual health checkups, life insurance, and a service award pension program, all at no cost. For more information on volunteering with the East Meadow Fire Department, visit www.eastmeadowfd.com or call 516-542-4565.