The Drumheller Fire Department is hosting an Open House this Saturday to mark Fire Prevention Week.
The theme of the 2023 Fire Prevention Week is, Only You Can Prevent Kitchen Fires.
Drumheller Fire Chief Derian Rosario tells the Mail that kitchen fires are by far the most common residential fires, and they are often the most preventable.
“Don’t leave your stove on and walk out of the kitchen. If you have to leave, turn the stove off,” he said. “If you do have a kitchen fire, don’t dump water on it. Putting a lid on it will probably snuff it out. Baking powder is a useful tool.”
He says if you have an extinguisher, don’t hesitate to use it. If you don’t have an extinguisher, it is important to get one that is an A-B-C fire extinguisher.
“It covers the gambit of a lot of home fires,” he said, noting that an extinguisher should be checked annually to make sure it is charged and in working order.
The Open House is on Saturday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Fire Hall will be wide open for residents to tour.
Firefighters will be on hand to meet and learn more about the department. Its equipment will be laid out for residents to see the tools the department has at its disposal to keep the community safe. There will be hot dogs and cake as well as demonstrations.
Youngsters can enter for some great prizes, simply by completing the colouring contest that appeared in the October 4 edition of The Drumheller Mail and dropping it off at the Open House.
The Drumheller Fire Department has 41 volunteer firefighters who operate out of halls in downtown Drumheller, Rosedale and East Coulee.
This year, the department has responded to over 312 calls, surpassing last year’s record total.
