Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jessica Lester (215) 884-6499 (office) or (215) 421-7536 (cell)

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPANIES WELCOME COMMUNITY
TO OPEN HOUSES DURING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, OCTOBER 3 – 9, 2010

ABINGTON – Abington Township residents are invited to visit their neighborhood fire company during Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 3‐9) to learn practical safety tips and meet the volunteer firefighters who protect the community.

Each company within the Abington Township Fire Department will be having an open house during the week between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The following fire companies will be open on the following dates:

Monday, Oct. 4: Abington Fire Company, 1920 Horace Ave.
Tuesday, Oct. 5: McKinley Fire Company, 893 Jenkintown Road
Wednesday, Oct. 6: Roslyn Fire Company, 1128 Bradfield Road
Thursday, Oct. 7: Weldon Fire Company, 412 N. Easton Road
Friday, Oct. 8: Edge Hill Fire Company, 2843 Limekiln Pike

Residents who visit will be able to view each company’s fire apparatus, take part in activities, eat refreshments, and chat with firefighters.

“Fire Prevention Week represents a chance for us to introduce ourselves to the community, while also providing them with valuable information that could save lives and prevent accidents,” said Jeff Glynn, Community Service Specialist. “Community support is vital to our organization and we welcome the opportunity to meet our residents and provide ways for them to get involved.”

Fire Prevention Week is a national campaign that has been observed since 1922 on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9th falls. It is held during this time to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed more than 250 people. Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishes a different educational theme for Fire Prevention Week.

This year, the theme is “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With.” According to the NFPA, smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half. Despite this, each year nearly 3,000 people die in U.S. home fires – many times because there was no smoke alarm or the smoke alarm did not sound due to dead batteries or because it had been disconnected.

The NFPA recommends the following safety tips regarding smoke alarms:

Install smoke alarms on every level of the home (including basement), outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom
Interconnect smoke alarms if possible, so that when one alarm sounds all the others go off.
Install a combination of ionization and photoelectric alarms. An ionization alarm responds to flaming fires (cooking fires), while a photoelectric alarm responds to smoldering fires (cigarette, overheated wiring, space heater).
Test smoke alarms once a month by pushing the test button. If an alarm chirps, replace the battery right away.
All smoke alarms should be replaced when they’re 10 years or older.
Never remove batteries or disable a smoke alarm.

For more information, visit www.nfpa.org. For more information about the ATFD, call (267) 536‐1055 or visit www.AbingtonFD.org.