PIERCETON — The Pierceton Fire Department is excited to announce its annual Fire Prevention Open House happening this Saturday, Oct. 20, to celebrate Fire Prevention Week.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pierceton Fire Department, members of the communities can expect to have an afternoon 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 on child passenger safety and to schedule an appointment to have children’s car seats certified.

Next, attendees will interact with the local firemen and responders as they work through a multitude of stations. Attendees will 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 the course, they will interact with actual fire equipment, using it in the same setting as current firemen do. Finally, on display children will be able to climb aboard all the local emergency apparatuses and learn about the difference between fire, police and EMS vehicles.

After participating in all of the educational stations, children will then receive their gift bag full of items donated from many local sponsors. Families are encouraged to then come inside and enjoy a meal prepared by Mama Ray’s BBQ. Dinner includes options for hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, 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 House sponsored by Cottage Watchman. This year the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department K9 unit will be present, doing demonstrations at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

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 children up for Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, or how to get involved in sponsoring children’s futures through programs with Big Brother/Big Sister, The Bowen Center, and the Hoosier Burn Camp.

Parents are encouraged to fill out a completed event evaluation form. This will then be entered into a drawing for a fire extinguisher or weather radio, which will be given away every five minutes during the event. The Pierceton Fire Department thanks the sponsors who made this possible this year including Paragon Medical, Nipsco, Lake City Bank, Homespun House, Kosciusko County EMA, Village Antique Gallerie, Wilby’s Gas and Groceries, Himes and Krull, and LexLil Contracting.

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