West Manchester Township Fire Department to Host “Truck Touch” Event

Fulfill your childhood curiosities while also learning fire prevention tips during West Manchester Township Fire Department’s “Truck Touch” event.

The family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, October 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lincolnway Volunteer Fire Company, located at 300 East Berlin Rd, York. Attendees can touch and tour fire trucks and other emergency vehicles and participate in Lincolnway and Trimmer Elementary School’s “Poster Contest.” Each vote costs fifty cents and is unlimited. The student with the highest votes at each elementary school will receive a free ride to school in one of the fire department’s fire trucks. A snack bar will be available, with 100% of the proceeds going towards the volunteer fire department.

The event will give interested individuals a chance to connect with their local firefighters and learn more about the volunteer opportunities available. No prior experience is required to join, and the fire department provides free training and gear to all of its volunteers.

“Volunteering with the West Manchester Township Fire Department is an experience like no other. We are like a family here, and we are always eager to grow our volunteer base to provide the highest quality of emergency services to the residents of West Manchester Township. We offer volunteer opportunities ranging from fighting fires to assisting with fundraising and social media,” said Fire Chief Clifton Laughman.

The “Truck Touch” event occurs the day before the kick off of Fire Prevention Week, an annual awareness initiative of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Attendees will hear fire prevention tips relative to this year’s theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU.”

Cooking Fire Statistics and Fire Prevention Tips

This year’s theme is intended to educate the public about the simple, yet important, actions one can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking. Cooking is the leading cause of household fires in the U.S. by a landslide, accounting for 49% of all home fires.

According to NFPA, stovetops account for roughly 60% of reported home fires involving cooking equipment, with ovens accounting for 13%. Unattended cooking is a contributing factor in 31% of home fires related to cooking equipment, 53% of the associated deaths and 44% of the associated injuries.

There is still a significant amount of work to be done to properly educate the public on safe cooking practices, and the NFPA provides these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire:

● Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

● Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.

● Have a “kids-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Are you interested in volunteering and helping serve your community? No experience is necessary to join and equipment will be provided free of cost. You can join as a volunteer firefighter, or on the administrative side where you can assist at community events and help with fundraising efforts. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the fire department, visit: www.WestManchesterFirefighter.org