A huge success… Hamlin Township Fire Department’s 7th annual Open House capped off national Fire Prevention Week activities in Hamlin Township.  “More than 500 adults and children attended the open house,” Captain Smith, fire prevention coordinator said.

Unusually cool, fall weather couldn’t stop hundreds of kids and parents from flocking to Hamlin Township’s Annual Fire Prevention Open House. Kids climbed aboard the big red trucks, put on kid sized firefighting gear, and talked to firefighters.
This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week was “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t get burned.” Participants were educated about fire awareness and prevention, as well as ways to keep their homes safe from some of the leading causes of home fires.
Along with kid-friendly educational materials, coloring books and handouts, participants had the chance to spray a real fire hose. Many children had huge smiles on their faces as they took their turn aiming the stream of water at the smoke house’s flaming windows, with help from firefighters. Many participants have attended yearly stating, “This is the fifth year we’ve come to the open house and it’s been a huge hit every time.  We like to check out the fire trucks and we always go home and have a fire drill and test our smoke alarms.”
Cpt. Darlene Smith was the organizer for the days events, which included fire extinguisher demonstrations, fire safety education programs, smoke house activities, Eaton County 911 dispatchers, Eaton Rapids Area EMS, spraying a real fire hose, home escape plan planning tent, free drawings for fire extinguishers/smoke alarms every hour and free foot-long hotdogs, popcorn and root-beer floats.
Smith explained that some of the points they were emphasizing this year were proper installation and testing of smoke alarms, planning your home escape plan and safe extension cord usage. “If we save one life by somebody installing a smoke alarm or making and practicing a home escape plan then we’re doing our job here,” she said.
“The day promised to be a fun one for all involved, while spreading the word about fire safety and reminding participants to ‘Be smart. Don’t let fire start’.”

Smith also mentioned how Hamlin Township’s Fire Prevention Unit visited area schools all week.  “Presenting school programs and holding our annual open house is something we plan to continue for a long time,” said Smith.

Hamlin Township Fire Department
Eaton Rapids, MI