The Tooele City Fire Department will spread awareness and open its doors to the community next week as part of Fire Prevention Week.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week slogan is “Hear the beep where you sleep,” which recommends putting a smoke alarm in each bedroom in a household, outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home.
Half of all U.S. home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The Red Cross recommends checking smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button, and to replace the batteries in a smoke detector when you change your clocks for daylight savings.
As part of Fire Prevention Week, firefighters from the TCFD will visit the city’s elementary schools and some preschools to talk about safety tips, like fire evacuation plans and stop, drop and roll.
The fire department will also hold an open house on Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station 1 at 90 N. Main St. behind Tooele City Hall. The event will give the public the opportunity to see firefighting equipment and interact with the city’s firefighters.
Attendees will have the opportunity to get into the city’s fire trucks, including the newest engine, Ladder 24. There will be station tours and fire helmets for kids as well.
An AirMed helicopter is scheduled to arrive at the open house around 11 a.m. and there will be pamphlets on fire safety and other pertinent information for households.
In addition to the fire-related activities, there will be hot dogs, drinks, chips and cookies for any hungry attendees stopping by around lunch time.
Fire Prevention Week takes place in October to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. This year’s commemoration is Oct. 4 -10.