by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
South Brunswick’s three volunteer fire districts are set to hold their annual open houses this weekend to share safety tips with the community.
The events are designed to provide children and adults with important safety tips for preventing and surviving fires in the home. It is part of National Fire Prevention program, which runs from Sunday to Friday.
”The basic thing is to teach people survival of an incident in the house and to prevent fires,” said Doug Wolfe, coordinator for District 2, which covers Monmouth Junction. “Using smoke detectors, using kitchen appliances properly, designing a route out of the house, setting a meeting place. That’s the whole theme of the thing.”
Residents who attend the events will get to meet their local firefighters, tour the firehouses and view demonstrations on “stop, drop and roll” techniques and smoke-detector battery replacement. Each open house will also feature a special trailer that simulates the conditions of a house fire, so people can see what it is like to try and escape.
”It is important for residents of all ages, especially kids, to learn fire safety tips,” said Mike Bruzachiello, coordinator for District 3, which covers Kingston. “Adults need to come up with an escape plan and tell the kids what to do, as well as not to play with matches and things of that nature.”
Tim Corris, coordinator for District 1 in Kendall Park, said that the firefighters go to school to offer tips on kids, but the open houses provide a forum for adults to learn as well.
”The information we give to the kids at the elementary school may not make its way home to the parents,” Mr. Corris said. “The whole family needs to be able to put the information to use if they need to.”
Kendall Park and Monmouth Junction fire companies will hold their open houses on Saturday and Kingston on Sunday at their firehouses. In addition to the demonstrations, there will also be refreshments and raffles of various door prizes.
For more information on National Fire Prevention Week, visit the National Fire Prevention Association’s Web site at www.nfpa.com.
Firehouse open houses:
District 1
Where: Kendall Park Firehouse on New Road in Kendall Park.
When: Saturday, Oct. 11, from 1 p.m. through 4 p.m.
District 2
Where: Monmouth Junction Firehouse Substation on Georges Road in Dayton.
When: Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m.
District 3
Where: Kingston Firehouse on Heathcote Road in Kingston.
When: Sunday, Oct. 12, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

