Sarnia Fire Rescue will be sharing safety advice with community members this week in hopes of spreading awareness and reducing the risk of dangerous situations.
National Fire Prevention Week is observed from October 4 to October 10.
Public Education Officer Mike Otis said the campaign always falls on the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. According to the National Fire Prevention Association's website, over 250 people were killed and thousands of structures burned down during the tragedy.
Otis said this year's theme is Charge into Fire Safety.
"So it's focusing on lithium-ion charging safety. Unfortunately, lithium-ion battery fires is a rising cause of fatal fires," he said. "When batteries go into thermal runaway, it's a very hot and dangerous fire that's hard to extinguish."
Otis said residents should ensure they're using the right chargers for each device, are only buying certified products, following manufacturers' recommendations, replacing damaged cords, and not overcharging.
During Fire Prevention Week, Sarnia firefighters will visit schools and host an open house on Wednesday, October 7, at the East Street station from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
"[It's a] free event for the family. We've been having it for several years now," Otis said. "There are giveaways, there's a fire safety house, an extinguisher training prop, they can tour the fire trucks, we're going to have a mini fire combat challenge course for kids. It's a fun event, and we encourage everybody to come out and learn some more about fire safety."
Last week, Sarnia Fire Rescue encouraged residents to test their smoke alarms as part of a provincial awareness campaign, Saved by the Beep.
