IT'S TIME FOR FIRE PREVENTION WEEK (OCT. 5- 11)

ABINGTON — In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, the five companies of the Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) will host open houses throughout the week of Oct. 5.

The public is invited to visit any of the companies from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on the following dates:

· Oct. 6: Abington Fire Company — 1920 Horace Avenue, Abington

· Oct. 7: McKinley Fire Company — 893 Jenkintown Road, Elkins Park

· Oct. 8: Roslyn Fire Company — 1128 Bradfield Road, Roslyn

· Oct. 9: Weldon Fire Company — 412 N. Easton Road, Glenside

· Oct. 10: Edge Hill Fire Company — 2843 Limekiln Pike, North Hills

At the open houses, participants will be able to view each station’s fire apparatus, speak with volunteer firefighters and learn about fire prevention. Members will also be on-hand to share recruitment information with those who are interested in joining the ATFD.

“Fire Prevention Week gives firefighters the chance to teach the community fire safety and prevention, while allowing us to welcome residents into our buildings, so they can see the various ways in which we serve the township,” Fire Services Administrator David Schramm said. “We’re excited to show our neighbors, friends, and newcomers what it means to be a volunteer firefighter and how they can get involved.”

Fire Prevention Week is a national campaign established in 1922 on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls. It is held during this time to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed more than 250 people. Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishes a different educational theme for Fire Prevention Week.

This year’s theme is “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives” and encourages families to test their fire alarms monthly. The theme stresses the importance functioning fire alarms because of how quickly smoke and fires can spread through homes. Those few seconds a working fire alarm can provide could mean a real difference in the lives of families.

The National Fire Protection Association and Fire Prevention Week offer the following facts:

· Install smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area and on every level of the home.

· Use interconnected smoke alarms, so when one sounds they all will go off.

· Test all smoke alarms monthly.

· Special smoke alarms are available for people hard-of-hearing or deaf, including those with strobe lights and bed shakers.

For more information, visit www.nfpa.org.

The ATFD headquarters is located at 1176 Old York Road in Abington. For more information, call 267-536-1055 or visit www.abingtonfd.org.