This week (October 7 -13) is National Fire Prevention Week, and activities scheduled for the Champaign-Urbana area to celebrate it feature family fun — not to mention free food.
Did you know? National Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 event that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.
This Fire Prevention Week, Sparky (seen in the logo above) wants to make sure that everyone has two ways out of every room in their home. If there is ever a fire, and your first way out is blocked, you can use your second way out.
Take a look around Sparky’s brand new Fire Prevention Week page. Send an eCard, read a short story, and have some fun!
How the Champaign-Urbana area will be celebrating National Fire Prevention Week. All events are FREE:
Wednesday, Oct. 10: Urbana firefighters invite the public to attend FAMILY NIGHT at Lincoln Square Village from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Free pizza and soda will be available to the first 500 participants. Other activities will include a meet and greet with Sparky the Fire Dog and Safety Pup, an Urbana Fire Department puppet show, meet 9-1-1 Operators, and color for a chance to win a new bicycle (for children ages 5-9). All week, Urbana Firefighters will be at Lincoln Square Village educating the public on how to protect themselves from fire. During the day, school groups from Urbana will be involved in several educational fire safety activities.
Thursday, Oct. 11: The Cornbelt Fire Protection District Open House from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, October 11 will feature free balloons, hot dogs, soda, and juice, truck rides for the kids, as well as Cornbelt fire equipment and several units from surrounding departments on display. Located at 506 W. Main St., Mahomet.
Saturday, Oct. 13:
Champaign Fire Department – Head to Destination: Safety Oasis with the acclaimed Passport to Safety activities in the Champaign Public Library’s parking lot from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 13 in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week. All are invited to learn, interact, visit and eat with community safety experts from C-U MTD, Carle Arrow Ambulance, American Red Cross, METCAD 9-1-1, Illinois Poison Center, Safe Kids, Champaign County, Champaign Police and Fire Departments. Hands-on activities include escaping from CFD’s smoky fire-safety house, practicing pedestrian safety, reviewing bike safety rules of the road with a police officer, identifying household poisons, preparing for localized natural disasters, and reviewing car seat safety. Emergency Services Support Team members and crisis response dogs, Neo and Magnum, will represent as well. In addition to the safety adventures, visitors will enjoy free food, music, prizes and an in-library children’s literature display in honor of Fire Prevention Week.
Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI): — IFSI will host an open house of the state fire academy on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Visitors will have a chance to see the facilities, including the new Learning Resource and Research Center (LRRC), which houses the only fire service dedicated library in Illinois. Self-guided tours travel along the circle drive on the 27-acre facility. Experts will be on hand to explain the various stations that include an arson investigation compound, an above ground trench rescue prop and a farm rescue area. Also on the tour will be information on vehicle extrication and railroad cars involved in hazardous materials spills. Visitors will pass by “rescue city” where collapsed building rescues are staged. The tour ends with a puppet show in IFSI’s fire house, as well as opportunities to take pictures on a fire engine. Visitors are asked to start their tour at the LRRC, just inside the entrance at the end of 11 Gerty Drive in Champaign. There is no charge for the tour. More information is available from Eddie Bain at 217-333-9014.
Saturday, Oct. 20: The Tolono Fire Protection District will be hosting a Fire Prevention Festival on October 20, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Unity West Elementary School in Tolono. The event will include a variety of displays, exhibits and interactive public safety educational opportunities for both adults and children. In addition, fire apparatus, a medical helicopter, and an ambulance will be on display for those in attendance to view. The public will also be able to learn about carbon monoxide detectors, severe weather awareness, 911 emergency communication procedures, and proper use of a fire extinguisher. A variety of children’s games and activities such as a fire safety house, the opportunity to try on firefighting gear and stop, drop and roll instruction will be available. There will be door prizes and fire prevention gift items for the children as well as hot dogs chips and drinks. The entire event is free of charge to the community. Donations will be accepted to help defray costs of this inaugural event.
Is your community having an event for National Fire Prevention Week? Please add it in the comments.
