The Great Chicago Fire on Oct. 8-9, 1871, sparked a movement that continues today: Fire Prevention Week. Across the nation, that tragic event is commemorated every October by fire departments hosting events promoting fire safety and preparedness through demonstrations and activities for all ages.
In addition to their regular duties and contribution to our communities, firefighters throughout Northwest Indiana are also engaged in extra school programming this month plus offering these informative, fun — and free — Fire Prevention Week events.
East Chicago
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, East Chicago’s Central Fire Station at 3901 Indianapolis Blvd. will open its doors for its 2015 public open house.
“We used to go more to schools but this is our fifth year with an open house at the fire station because we’d like whole families to come out,” event organizer and Chief Inspector Henry Ventura said. “This is an entertaining and educational event for all ages.”
One feature of the fire station open house will be tours giving visitors an opportunity to see how firefighters live during their 24-hour shifts, including where they eat, sleep, exercise and study. A DJ will serve as the master of ceremonies and will perform between planned activities. Hot dogs and snacks will be provided.
“This year we’re doing something different and setting up a version of the obstacle course that we have to do as a part of our training to get on the fire department and letting the kids go through it,” Ventura said.
“We’ll also demonstrate something that, fortunately, most people don’t get to see, and use the Jaws of Life to demonstrate how we’d get someone out of a vehicle after a bad auto accident,” he said. “You might hear about it but to actually see it and see what’s involved, it really makes you think about the danger of, for example, texting while driving, drunk driving, or driving while drowsy.”
The East Chicago Fire Department Open House will also include entertainment: a noon performance by the Chicago Boys Acrobatic Team, semi-finalists on America’s Got Talent in 2013 and a magic show by Ronald McDonald. The event will also include a demonstration of patient care by Prompt Ambulance, blood pressure screening by the East Chicago Health Department, and presentations by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the Red Cross.
Schererville
Try-Town Safety Village — a 5-acre, child-sized town designed to teach about police, fire and railroad safety — will be the site of the Schererville Fire Department National Fire Prevention Day event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
“Having this at Safety Village is a great thing for us because it lets us include things we could never do at the station,” event coordinator and Deputy Chief Robert Patterson said. “It’s our hope that (residents will) see a variety of different things and then know what to do to stay safe or to respond to emergency situations. We also want them to see what assets and services are out there.”
As an example, Patterson said, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department helicopter will land at the event, weather permitting.
Patterson said one of the learning experience opportunities of the event at Safety Village is Survive Alive House.
“The house is filled with smoke and the public can go through and get a sense of exiting during a fire,” he said. “Another activity we’ll have, weather permitting, is the water spray and letting kids hold onto a fire hose.”
Patterson said another feature at Safety Village is Little Obie, a 6-foot-high scale model of a Canadian National locomotive, which is just one of the resources there used to teach about safety around trains.
Other features of the event include: the demonstration of an automobile accident extrication, vision screening of youth ages 1 through 5 by the Schererville Central Lions Club, hot dogs and refreshments, and vendors with information and giveaways.
Bill Jarvis, executive director of Tri-Town Safety Village, 1350 Eagle Ridge Drive, said nearly 3,000 people typically attend this event. He recommends arriving early and planning to stay for the duration of the open house to experience all that the event has to offer.
Tri-Town Safety Village Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with advisers from Dyer, Schererville and St. John.
Other area Fire Prevention Week events include:
*The Hammond Fire Department Fire Prevention Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Central Station, 6110 Calumet Ave. This event will feature: a car fire extinguishing demonstration, a Jaws of Life extrication, food, face painting, a bounce house and raffles.
*The Crown Point Fire Prevention Open House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the station, 126 N. East St. This event will include: stove fire extinguishing demonstrations; the Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH) safety trailer, fire truck rides, a junior firefighter obstacle course, Sparky the Fire Dog and food.
On Saturday, Oct. 10:
* Chesterton Fire Safety Open House and Parade from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a parade of EMS vehicles followed by activities at 702 Broadway.
* Hobart Fire Prevention Week Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 401 E. 10th St.
* Munster Fire Department’s annual Fire Prevention Week Open House from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Fire Station 2, 550 Fisher St.
* Dyer Fire Department Open House from noon to 4 p.m. at 2150 Hart St.
On Sunday, Oct. 11:
* Cedar Lake Fire Department Open House and pancake and sausage breakfast from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 9430 W. 133rd St.
* Griffith Fire Prevention Open House from noon to 4 p.m. at Central Station, 130 N. Lafayette St.
* Lowell Fire Department Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1331 E. Commercial Ave.
Saturday, Oct. 17
* Merrillville Fire Department Open House at Station 71, 18 W. 73rd Ave. (Time to be determined.)
Joan Dittmann is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.
