Langley City firefighters were at local grocery stores this week spreading awareness of the importance of smoke alarms.
Their efforts were part of Fire Prevention Week (FPW), which runs annually from Oct. 8 to 14, and aims to educate people about the simple, although important, things they can do to keep themselves safe from fire.
This year’s theme centred on cooking safety, a leading cause of house fires and house fire injuries.
“A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented,” said Cpt. Bob Perry, fire prevention officer.
This year, the City fire department focused on educating grocery shoppers on their smoke detectors.
“It’s a tradition for us that we go to the grocery stores and bag groceries. We inserted a flyer about checking smoke alarms… smoke alarms save lives and that’s what we are really pushing this year for fire prevention week,” Perry told the Langley Advance Times.
Local schools that held fire drills this week were entered into a draw for a $200 gift certificate from the Downtown Langley Business Association.
Information packages were also sent to elementary students with details on how to enter a “Fire Chief for a Day” contest.
Kids in Kindergarten to Grade 3 could enter for a chance to win a private visit to the City fire hall, a fire chief hat, and a ride to school in a fire truck.
“It’s important to understand and appreciate how things get hot fairly quickly, how to use an extinguisher, how to put lids on things that do flare up,” said deputy chief Dean Colthorp with Langley City fire rescue.
Today, Township firefighters will be attending Home Depot’s Kids Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon to share cooking safety tips.
Home Depot is located at 6550 200th St.
Fire Prevention Week is observed internationally each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871. It killed 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.
For more information on cooking safety, people can visit nfpa.org.
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