The week of Oct. 4-10 was a chance for people in the Battlefords to hear the message of fire prevention.
North Battleford Fire Department organized a number of activities to get the message out during Fire Prevention Week.
A display was set up at Sobeys and there were also fire drills conducted at schools, which also included a blocked exit exercise to teach students what to do if an exit isn’t accessible.
Wednesday was the annual smoky on a bun event, inviting people to visit the fire hall, get some fire prevention information and see the department's equipment. All proceeds went to the Burn Fund.
The fire department also hosted a Junior Fire Chief program Friday. Students representing nine schools in the Battlefords visited the fire hall and learned about all aspects of the fire department and use of the fire equipment.
A display was also set up at Co-op Mall to end the week .
The theme of the week this year was "hear the beep where you sleep," highlighting the importance of having a working smoke alarm in your home and in your bedroom.
Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Steinborn noted a fire could easily start in a bedroom because of electronics being plugged in and possibly overloading.
"Every time you have so much of that stuff you have the potential of having a fire hazard," said Steinborn, noting the importance of having a smoke alarm that is working and which can wake people up in the middle of the night.
He cited the importance of having one in the bedroom because by the time a smoke alarm sounds in a hallway, it could be too late for the person inside the room, he said.
"We do and have had bedrooms that have been on fire, so it's a good message."
Steinborn said the law states you need a smoke alarm for every level of a home. For existing homes, they are recommended for sleeping rooms as well, but for new homes it is a requirement.
While the job title is "firefighter,'" the function of educating and communicating to the public is a vital part of the fire department's mandate. And it is a function that goes on well beyond Fire Prevention Week.
"It's not just Fire Prevention Week," said Steinborn. "It's Fire Prevention Year, and that's what we're doing all the time, is trying to go out and teach people about fire safety and how to be safe in their homes."
