Cary Fire Department Offers Prevention Activities

The Cary Fire Protection District will offer CPR training, Jaws of Life demonstrations and equipment tours as part of national fire prevention week, which began Oct. 3 and runs through Oct. 9

The theme this year is Smoke Detectors: A Sound You Can Live With. The Cary firefighters are using the week to bring attention to the importance of smoke detectors throughout home, Lt. Andrew Veath said.

It's important to have a smoke detector in every bedroom, common area, hallway, garage and any other area that may have electrical outlets, Veath added.

Veath said residents should make sure their smoke detectors have fresh batteries and check areas such as a laundry room, which could be on the first or second floor.

Veath said the fire prevention week is to also commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on Oct. 8, 1871. The fire began on a Sunday and didn't end until Tuesday. The fire caused many deaths and destroyed about 4 square miless.

The huge wood building of the city and the dry fall the city had experienced caused the fire's severity, Veath said.

Veath said that at the same time , Peshtigo, WI experienced a similar fire, causing one of the worst forest fires in North American history.

Today, both cities are in better shape and have well-built buildings in place, he said.

In addition to smoke detector awareness, Cary firefighters will be teaching, stop, drop and roll, home safety and child safety at their annual open house from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Headquarters Station No. 1, 400 Cary-Algonquin Road.

Fire trucks, ambulances and special equipment will be on display during the open house from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. The open house will include demonstrations by Flight for Life of Mchenry and Jaws of Life.

The department also offers CPR classes, which take place on the first Wednesday of every month from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, contact the fire department at 847-639-2121 or  info@caryfire.com