2Educating the Lakeland on preventing fires, along with the damage they cause, is the focus of any Fire Prevention Week.
The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA) is hosting their annual open house on Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bonnyville Fire Hall.
“The open house is so the community can meet the firefighters,” explained regional training and fire prevention officer, Capt. Dwayne Ethier. “That’s part of it because we’re here for the community. It would be inviting the community into our house, to see who we are and what we do... One of the biggest things is the fire prevention message.”
Some of the activities planned include presentations on fire safety, vehicle extractions, fire demonstrations, and all of the fire trucks will be on display for tours during the event.
A large part of the event is meant to allow Bonnyville firefighters to pass on their knowledge of fire prevention and to share tips and tricks with the community.
“A bigger part of what we do is preventing the fire from starting in the first place. That’s a huge aspect of the open house, is to pass on that information to help the community to protect themselves. No one wants to lose property, or lose their house... If we can prevent it from happening, that’s our ultimate goal,” Ethier expressed.
The open house is happening in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week for this reason, and Ethier said it’s important for residents to be educated on how to prevent fires to “protect themselves.”
While the fire authority hosts educational events throughout the year, BRFA fire chief Brian McEvoy noted the importance of the programs in stopping fires before they start.
“Tied with the provincial, national, and North American fire prevention and fire safety, the programming has seen significant reductions in fire losses and fire injuries over the past hundred years,” he detailed.
The theme for this year’s fire prevention week is ‘look, listen, and learn.’
Ethier said, “That’s really just making people aware that fire can happen anywhere, and there’s multiple dangers involved.”
The long-lasting ramifications from fires on residents are what makes fire prevention activities crucial for rural areas, and can save people from property and personal damage.
“The impact of fire on a community, whether it’s loss of property or a loss of life, can be dramatic. It’s important to the community to keep the fire safety and prevention education in the forefront to reduce that dramatic impact on the community from fire losses or injuries,” McEvoy explained.
The event is well attended every year, which allows Bonnyville firefighters to get their message out to more and more people.
“We love doing it, and meeting the public. The turnout has been very well received within the community... Each year, we try to get it out there to get people knowing and get even more people to show up. Obviously, the more people here means the more people learn and the more information that gets passed,” Ethier noted.
The open house is a free come-and-go event. For more information, call the BRFA at 780-826-4755.
