All families are invited to what organizers promise will be a fun-filled day as Sarasota County Emergency Services holds its annual Fire Prevention Week Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Fire Station No. 5, located at 400 N. Beneva Road in Sarasota. The event is free.
This year’s theme, “Hear the beep when you sleep — every bedroom needs a working smoke alarm!” was chosen by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), which reports that one in five home fires and half of home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are sleeping, a county news release points out. “Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan,” the release adds.
“When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast,” said Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier in the release. “Smoke alarms give early warning so everyone can get outside quickly. Make sure family members have an escape plan with two ways out,” he pointed out in the release. “We hope that Fire Prevention Week will help to reach folks in the community to prevent [tragedies] from happening to them.”
The open house will include live fire demonstrations, face painting, games, a World Trade Center artifact and fire trucks and rescue units, as well as 911’s Red E. Fox and Terry Telephone, the release continues. Along with admission, refreshments will be free.
For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 861-5000.