Roughly 100 fire stations across Quebec will open their doors to the public in the coming days, as part of the province’s annual Fire Prevention Week.
On Sunday, it was Laval‘s turn. The city’s nine fire stations welcomed residents in a bid to get everyone interested in fire safety.
“We think it’s a great opportunity for the little guys to come and both see the firetrucks and learn about fire prevention, and so we’ve had it on our calendars for a little while to come and spend the day here,” one young mother, who brought her 16-month-old son to the open house event in Sainte-Dorothee, said.
All day, kids were invited to tour the station and climb into the firetrucks.
Firefighters were on hand to answer questions about their work and to teach patrons – young and old – a thing or two about prevention.
The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week is centred around the kitchen, where 25 fires start each day across the province.
From extinguishers to evacuation plans, it’s all essential to a safe outcome.
Chantal Bibeau, head of Laval’s fire prevention division, says if there’s one thing she can’t stress enough, it’s the importance of the smoke detector.
“Yes, it’s important to have one, but you need to check it,” Bibeau said. “Too often, people have actually gone and bought one, they have installed it when they bought their home. But this was 10 years ago or seven years ago, and they kind of forget. And this is the one thing that will save your life if there’s a fire.”
Fire Prevention Week isn’t unique to Quebec. In fact, it’s not even unique to Canada.
Its roots go back to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which left much of the city in ruins and killed hundreds.
“Since then, Fire Prevention Week has been established at the beginning of October, and we always try to concentrate activities at that time,” said Bibeau.
But for firefighters in Laval and across North America, fire prevention is an ongoing effort all year round.
For a list of open houses at Quebec fire stations this week, click here.