UPDATED: Fire Department Welcomes The Public

On Sunday, Oct. 14 the Tewksbury Fire Department through its S.A.F.E Program hosted its annual Open House in support of National Fire Prevention Week.

Fire Prevention Week takes place each year during the second week in October and commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Fire prevention and safety is something that we in the fire department practice and promote throughout the year. This week gives us another tool to share our prevention and safety message with the public. This year’s Open House featured demonstrations and activities on hands only CPR, the Jaws of Life, home emergency preparedness, search and rescue, blood pressure screenings, a coloring contest, fire safety, fire hose target practice, a ladder climb, and free pizza.

The 2012 theme of “Have 2 Ways Out!” conveys the reality that when fire strikes, your home could be engulfed in smoke and flames in just a few minutes. It is important to have and practice a home fire escape plan when the smoke alarm sounds in your home. What if your first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames? Have you planned for a second way out to safety?

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Make a map of your home and plan for a second way out.
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Plan a meeting place outside of your home.
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Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
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Keep your escape plan on your refrigerator or other visible place.
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Practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.

We would like to thank our community partners that donated their time and services. Without their efforts and the firefighters that volunteered their time and talents, our Open House would  not have been the success that it was.

• Barbara Casparius – National Safety Council, American Red Cross, Medical Reserve Corps
• Chief Steve Yetmen – Burlington Fire Department
• EmbroidMe of Tewksbury
• Joan Viscione, R.N.
• Officer Jennie Welch - Tewksbury Police Department
• Papa Gino’s of 553 Main Street
• Penney’s Auto of Tewksbury
• Rob Bodoni – MetLife
• Tewksbury Firefighters Local 1647
• Tewksbury S.A.F.E.
• The Merrill Family
• The Morgado Family
• The Sawicki Family
• The Vasas Family

Special thanks go to the Burlington Fire Department for recently donating a fully equipped and functional fire safety house to the Tewksbury S.A.F.E. Program. This demonstration house is used to educate school age children throughout our community in home fire safety.

If you and your family have some additional photos from the open house, you can share them by uploading them directly to this story!