Open houses planned at city, rural fire departments

Local fire departments will observe Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 6-12 with open houses on separate days in Weiser.
 The public is invited to tour both fire stations, meet firefighters and check out equipment. There also will be educational materials available.
 The Weiser Area Rural Fire Department is inviting the public to an open house on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
 The department will offer tours of the new fire station building that replaced the old structure that was damaged in snowmageddon in 2017.
 Volunteer rural firemen will also serve up hot dogs and chili  for visitors and provide educational materials on fire prevention.
 Weiser City Fire and Rescue plans an open house at the fire station on Monday, Oct. 7, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The fire department will serve chili and hot dogs and beverages.

There will be a table with educational materials and a bounce house for kids. They can also sit in a fire truck and put on fire gear. The public is invited to meet the volunteer firemen and learn about fire safety.
 Fire Prevention Week is observed by fire departments across the country. This year’s theme is “Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape.”
 The campaign seeks to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
 Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that in 2017 fire departments across the U.S. responded to 357,000 home structure fires.
 These fires caused 2,630 fire deaths and 10,600 fire injuries. On average, seven people died in a fire in a home per day during 2012 to 2016.  
 NFPA officials note that in a typical home fire residents may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds.  
 Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.
 The National Fire Protection Association recommends practicing a home escape plan so everyone in the home knows exactly what to do if the smoke alarms sound in an emergency.
 Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home and outside all sleeping areas. Test the smoke alarms every month.
 The NFPA also stresses the concept of “situational awareness,” a skill people need to use wherever they go.
 No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately.
 The arrival of fall weather is also a time to check smoke detectors and replace the batteries. It’s also the time to make sure heating systems that will be used for colder weather are functioning properly.
 Fire prevention week has been observed annually since 1922.
 In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in the country.