ROANOKE, Va. – To celebrate the 100th anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week, fire departments all over the country are trying to teach their communities about fire safety and how to avoid fires.
Blacksburg’s Volunteer Fire Department was one of many groups that tried to teach people about how to protect themselves and others from fires.
They want the public to swing by all week to learn more about fire safety.
The department’s Sunday festivities began with an open house. The public was invited to Station #3 so that kids and their families could get a look inside, take a tour of a fire truck, and get safety tips.
Officials from the fire department say that if there is a fire, you should be ready and have a plan.
As colder months approached, authorities stressed the need for fire prevention.
“The point is, if you use an alternate heat source, such as space heaters or anything, make sure you have at least a three-foot route around it so that combustibles are not nearby. Todd Jones, a fireman and fire investigator with Blacksburg’s Volunteer Fire Department, said that if you use woodstoves or chimneys, you should have them cleaned annually to prevent buildup, and you should also be conscious when it gets chilly on any of these alternative heat sources.
National Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15.
For more fire prevention and safety tips, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website.
