In conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, which takes place Oct. 4-10, the Humboldt Fire Department held its annual open house to educate the public on how to prevent house fires.
“The turnout is awesome. It just exploded at 5 o’clock. They were lined up down the street. It was overwhelming.”
This year, the week focuses on the importance of smoke alarms.
“We’re really trying to stress to the kids that they should maybe check their fire alarms so they can ‘hear the beep where they sleep,’” said deputy fire chief Darrell Wickenhauser.
The open house boasted a barbecue, a demonstration on how to put out a stovetop fire, rescue tools on display, and a tour of the ladder truck where a lineup of excited kids waited to be lifted on top of the truck. Kids also got to try on fire jackets.
“It’s blowing them away to see the fire trucks,” Wickenhauser said. “They’re just smiling.”
He hopes that the kids who attended the open house learn about the importance of smoke alarms, but also that firefighters are their friends and there to help them in an emergency.
Wickenhauser said most fires start in the kitchen and so it’s important to always be conscious of your cooking, make sure you know when the burner is on, and don’t leave your food unattended. Another important tip to stay safe is to make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are tested monthly.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., and three out of five of these deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. In addition, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in home fires in half.
