Members of the public are invited to visit Taree Fire Station this Saturday, May 20, for the annual Fire and Rescue NSW Open Day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The station will be open from 10 am to 2 pm, allowing families to participate in a range of activities including firefighting demonstrations, tours of the station and fire safety presentations.
Taree Fire Station commander Peter Willard said the day gives locals an opportunity to learn about fire safety.
"For us it's about inviting our community in to see what we do. We're a government public service for the people here.
"We want you to come and see what we've got, see our equipment and talk to the crew about any questions you have about fire safety.
“Why not come along to Taree Fire Station on Open Day and talk to us about how you can reduce the risk of fire destroying your life,” Mr Willard said.
The focus of this year’s event is fire prevention in the kitchen, urging people to “keep looking when cooking”.
"Coming into winter, kitchen fires are prevalent in NSW with more than 60 per cent of fires occurring between May and September.
"Most kitchen fires start simply and usually because of not paying attention, leaving them unattended, really minor things like not turning appliances off.
“It can take just three minutes for a fire to take hold, but a few simple steps can help you prevent one,” Mr Willard said.
Crew members will be lighting a fire in an oil pan to demonstrate the correct method to extinguishing a kitchen fire.
Children in attendance will take home a “Brigade Kids” activity booklet, which teaches them vital fire safety lessons.
Mr Willard said residents should take a proactive stance when receiving fire safety advice.
“We’re encouraging residents to replace their outdated alarms with the latest 10 year, lithium-powered smoke alarms.
“We also want to remind people to be careful when using home heaters and to remember to keep everything in the house a metre from the heater.
“If you remember these simple rules, you’re on your way to having a safe, fire-free winter,” Mr Willard said.