Firefighters are encouraging people to visit Forbes fire station for the Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) annual Open Day this Saturday, May 20.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The fire station will be open from 10am to 2pm and families are encouraged to come along and meet their local firefighters and learn more about fire prevention.
Children will be able to see the fire engines and firefighting equipment up close – always a highlight of this much anticipated day.
They’ll also take home a “Brigade Kids” activity booklet, which teaches vital fire safety lessons.
Forbes fire fighters will also be cooking up a free sausage sizzle and there are little helmets for the kids while stocks last.
This year, the focus is on preventing fires in the kitchen, urging people to “keep looking when cooking” – so there’s a spoon with the reminder on it for the early attenders as well.
Station Command Brian Clarke AFSM said almost half of all house fires start in the kitchen, usually when people fail to keep an eye on the stovetop.
“Regrettably, hundreds of injuries occur every year from cooking-related fires and people have lost their lives as a result,” he said.
With winter coming, the open day is also a great opportunity to talk to the experts about your smoke alarms.
Smoke from a home fire is toxic, only early warning can assist in giving your family vital time to escape a smoke filled room.
This is particularly crucial in case fire starts while you sleep - you will not smell the smoke from a fire and the smoke will actually put you into a deeper sleep. A smoke alarm is the critical first step in your home fire safety plan.
“We’re encouraging residents to replace their outdated alarms with the latest 10-year, lithium powered smoke alarms,” Capt Clarke said.
Everyone is encouraged to come along to Forbes Fire Station on Saturday and find out more about reducing the risk of fire in the home.
The historic Templar Street fire station has been recently renovated and the upstairs is now opened up for use again, so it’s a good chance for Forbes families to see the works.