Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11, 2014.

By Ronni Newton

Fire Prevention Week is a time when the West Hartford Fire Department reaches out to people in the community with activities that are fun and entertaining, especially for young children, but at the same time provide valuable and potentially life-saving information.

The theme for this year is: “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives. Test Yours Every Month.” The following message appears on the West Hartford Fire Department’s website: “Did you know that many people don’t test their smoke alarms as often as they should? When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. You need working smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Test yours every month!”

Open houses for the public will be held on Monday through Friday of Fire Prevention Week, from 6 to 8 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

• Monday, Oct. 6: Station 1, 561 Prospect Ave.
• Tuesday, Oct. 7: Station 2, 20 Brace Rd.
• Wednesday, Oct. 8: Station 3, 1048 New Britain Ave.
• Thursday, Oct. 9: Station 4, 2458 Albany Ave.
• Friday, Oct. 10: Station 5, 51 Berkshire Rd.

A kitchen fire extinguishing demonstration will be featured, with equipment on loan from the Connecticut Fire Academy. Other activities including “EDITH” (Exit Drills In The Home); stop, drop, and roll; and squirting the fire hose. Handouts will be distributed and there will also be free blood-pressure screening.