Fire Prevention Tips, Activities

The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week is “Every Second Counts – Plan 2 Ways Out!” The Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department and Valley County Glasgow Long Run Volunteer Fire Department served hot dogs, chips and sodas at no charge at the Valley Event Center on Oct. 10. The show-and-tell event included a closer look at assembled fire trucks and engines and a Q&A session with the firefighters.

The National Fire Prevention Association lists some helpful to-dos for the family, including the following:

Draw a map of your home by using a grid in English and/or Spanish with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit; practice your home fire drill twice a year, conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them, make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.

NFPA adds: “Close doors behind you as you leave, as this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.”

Local firefighters also visited the Irle School on Oct 9, and scheduled talks with K-3 grades during the rest of the week, as well as classes with area pre-schools (First Lutheran Head Start and Little Scholars) at the south side fire hall.

At press time, local outreach efforts such as those listed above have already led to interactions with hundreds of area students.

“We love working with the kids,” Glasgow Fire Chief Brandon Brunelle told the Courier, “that’s for sure.”