PIERCETON — The Pierceton Fire Department is excited to announce our annual Fire Prevention Open House happening this Friday, Oct. 13, to celebrate fire prevention week. From 5 until 8 p.m. at the Pierceton Fire Department, members of the communities can expect to have a night packed full of free family fun.

Activities will include making a personal first aid kit sponsored by Lutheran EMS and Lutheran Health Network. After making their kit, children who are attending will learn about adult and child CPR. A certified car seat technician will also be on site to answer any questions child passenger safety.

Next, attendees will interact with the local firemen and responders as they work through a multitude of stations. Children present will get to make a fire escape plan personalized to their own home. Going outside of the fire station, attendees will then experience the save-a-life smokehouse trailer where they will practice staying low in a smoky environment and stop, drop and roll.

They will then test their skill on being a fireman at the obstacle station. During which they will interact with actual fire equipment using it in the same setting as our current firemen do but in an obviously more controlled environment. Finally, on display children will be able to climb aboard all the local emergency apparatuses and learn about the difference between each of them.

After participating in all the educational stations, children will then receive their gift bag full of items donated from our many local sponsors. Families are encouraged to then come inside and enjoy a meal prepared by Mama Ray’s BBQ. Dinner includes pulled pork sandwich, chips, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and desserts. Drink choices of bottled water sponsored by Rabb Water or juice will be available.

Families are encouraged to stick around and participate in the coloring contest sponsored by the Pierceton Lions Club, get their picture taken with Sparky the firehouse dog, or bounce in the firedog bounce Hhuse sponsored by Cottage Watchman. Families can also visit the vendor booths that will be on site where more information can be given on how to sign up for a free 10-year smoke alarm, how to sign your child up for Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts or how to get involved in sponsoring our children’s future through programs with the Big Brother Big Sister, The Bowen Center and the Hoosier Burn Camp.

Parents are encouraged to fill out a completed event evaluation form as it will get them entered into a drawing where a fire extinguisher will be given away every five minutes during the event thanks to local business sponsors such as Paragon Medical, Nipsco, Lake City Bank, Homespun House, Village Antique Gallerie, Wilby’s Gas & Groceries and Himes & Krull.

For questions on the event or to find out how you can sponsor or participate in the event, please contact the Pierceton Fire Department at (260) 609-6982 or via Facebook at Pierceton Fire Rescue.