Each year, the Parksville Fire Department participates in Fire Prevention Week and again this year will open its doors to the public on Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fire Prevention Week will be recognized from Oct. 9 to 15. The open house takes place at the fire hall (160 Jensen Ave.).
Members of the community are encouraged to drop by for a little fun and most importantly, to learn some possible life-saving strategies for fire prevention. Firefighters will be giving tours of the station, including trucks and equipment, so be sure to bring a camera.
The RCMP will be on site with a child car seat restraint technician to conduct inspections of car seats for the public. If people would like to have their car seat inspected, please bring the car manual as well as the restraint manual so these can be referenced during the inspection. The seat should be installed in the vehicle prior to arriving at the fire hall.
“The fire prevention open house will showcase the services we provide to the community and for the Parksville Fire Department to provide fire safety information to our residents,” said fire Chief Marc Norris.
The theme for this year’s fire prevention week is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every Ten Years” which underscores the importance of having a working smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of homes, including the basement.
When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. People are encouraged to check their smoke alarms every month.
Only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are or how often they should be replaced.
The Parksville Fire Department works to educate the public about basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety: smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years, make sure people know how old all the smoke alarms are in their homes and to find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm.
The Parksville Fire Department would like families to focus on preventing fires by planning ahead and integrating a few simple fire safety behaviours into everyday lives.
By paying attention and eliminating potential fire hazards in homes, people can make a difference that will prevent or reduce fire related injuries, deaths and property damage.
— City of Parksville