BRISTOL FIRE COMPANY (STATION 51) TEACHES THE COMMUNITY ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION AT WALMART EVENT ON OCT. 5

BRISTOL—In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, Bristol Fire Company (Station 51) will host its annual Open House for the Community in the Walmart parking lot located at the intersection of routes 13 and 413 on Oct. 5. Attendees will be able to view fire apparatus from Bristol Fire Company and other local fire departments, speak with volunteer firefighters and learn about fire prevention.

The community is welcomed to this free event from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m., where firefighters will demonstrate how to prevent house fires and why each family should have emergency evacuation plans. In addition, there will be fun activities for children, including a moon bounce, music and snacks.

“Our role in educating the community is vitally important,” Fire chief Herb Slack said. “Our mission is to keep people safe, and the best way to do that is to make information about fire prevention available.”

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

Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5- Oct. 11) is a national campaign established in 1922 and held every year in October 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.

As part of this year’s campaign, Bristol 51 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 on fire safety or to learn about volunteering with Station 51, visit www.bristol51.com

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