Next week Grand Rapids residents will have an opportunity to check out ten of the city’s fire stations. It’s part of Fire Prevention Week. And, it’s not only a chance to meet neighborhood firefighters, but residents can also learn more about the importance of fire protection.
“Our open house is showing the community what it is we actually do and how we live within the community, because we’re on 24 hours a day, and then we go home to our own private lives and then we come back .”
Come to one of the Grand Rapids Fire stations next week during Fire Prevention Week and you may find out a few things you never knew about your local firefighters
“It’s interesting, people don’t actually know the fire stations are our homes. We live together, we work together.”
Grand Rapids Fire Department Lt. William Smith, with Fire Prevention Inspections, says you’ll also discover what the different stations do as well as information about the gear firefighters wear.
“A lot of people don’t understand the personal protective equipment that we wear, why we have air tanks on our backs, a lot think it’s oxygen tanks, it’s not, it’s just normal compressed air. It’s really important for people to understand that firefighters, especially here in Grand Rapids, we are an hazards response team.’
But Lt. Smith says, one of the biggest components of Fire Prevention Week is zeroing in on the importance of fire safety and fire prevention.
“I think it’s critically important that people understand that there are dangers within the home and they can be prevented and with a positive mindset. And the message this year from National Fire Protection Association is not every hero wears a cape, plan and practice your escape. And as I said, it’s vitally important people know how to get out of their homes.”
The GRFD’s open house is Wednesday October 9th, at ten of its fire stations from 6 to 8 pm and then again on Saturday, October 12th at the Leonard Street station from 1 -3 p.m.
