It's Fire Prevention Week

October 9th through the 15th is National Fire Prevention Week. Forest Grove Firefighters will be kicking off the week long celebration of fire safety with visits to some of the elementary schools in our area. During these visits students will have a chance to meet the firefighters as they will be spending time in their classrooms, as well as having lunch and recess with the kids. While at the schools we will be spending approximately 20 to 30 minutes in each classroom where we will be reading fire safety stories with the kindergartners and first graders, and helping the second, third, and fourth graders with special fire safety lessons. Every student will receive a fire safety work book that they can work on in class and take home to show their parents and reinforce the special safety messages that the firefighters shared with them during the school day. Here's our school visit schedule for Fire Prevention Week:

• Monday October 10 Joseph Gale Elementary School
  


• Tuesday October 11 Joseph Gale Elementary School
  


• Wednesday October 12 Harvey Clarke Elementary School
  


• Thursday October 13 Dilley Elementary School

All of this will culminate with the always popular Fire Station and Public Service Open House which will be held on Saturday October 15th at the Forest Grove Fire Station. This event will run from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and will include things from not just the firefighters but just about every public service agency that works to keep Forest Grove going will have special information or equipment at the Open House. Our guests at the Open House will include Forest Grove Police, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Metro West Ambulance, Lifeflight Network, Forest Grove Light and Power, Forest Grove Public Works, Clean Water Services, Forest Grove Library Services, and the Forest Grove Parks and Recreation Department. There will be countless activities for kids and adults alike including fire engine rides, static displays of vehicles and equipment, aerial lift rides in the Light and Power bucket truck, and if the weather permits a special visit from Lifeflight when they land in our parking lot. Also at the Open House you are welcome to tour the fire station and visit our newly updated Fire Museum which showcases the 117 year history of firefighting in Forest Grove and includes our newest exhibit of the three foot long I-beam from the collapsed World Trade Centers on 9/11/01.

What can you do to get involved with Fire Prevention Week at home?

• Install smoke alarms in areas where people sleep and on each level of the home. Replace all of your existing smoke alarms that are over ten years old with new ones, and test all of your smoke alarms monthly.


• Practice a home fire drill with your family. Test your smoke alarm and have your children practice two ways out of the home and meeting at a family meeting place like a tree or mailbox outside of the home.


• Hunt for home hazards like extension cords, things left too close to heaters, or matches and lighters that are left out.


• Make sure that you have an ABC rated fire extinguisher available in the kitchen and that it is fully charged and accessible quickly in an emergency.