Fall brings Fire Prevention Month

Bill Wilson

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 1 a.m.

Bill Wilson

It's my favorite time of the year. Autumn brings cooler weather, football (Go Browns!), school for my kids (Yeah!) and the start of the holiday season (I'm partial to Halloween).

Autumn also brings October, which happens to be Fire Prevention Month, named to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Fire departments across the country step up their public education program, focusing on teaching fire safety skills to children.

The Boulder City Fire Department certainly is no different. Throughout the month, our fire department will conduct fire station tours and give fire safety presentations at area elementary schools and preschools.

The highlight of the month happens at A.J. Mitchell Elementary School on Oct. 28. With the assistance of the Clark County Fire Department, the Boulder City Fire Department presents a "Fire Safety Road Show," where several different safety concepts will be taught throughout the school day. These will include, Stop, Drop and Roll, calling 911, escaping from a house fire and smoke detector usage.

Of course, our fire safety presentations happen all year long, and we tailor our program to any age group, such as church organizations, Neighborhood Watch programs, Scouting groups and individual households. Please call the Boulder City Fire Department at 293-9228 if you would like to schedule a class.

Finally, the Boulder City Firefighters Association is giving our community a chance to learn more about our fire department with a "Get To Know You Free Pancake Breakfast" from the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Oct. 4. Firefighters and volunteers will serve pancakes and give station tours.

At 9 a.m. a "Fallen Firefighter Service" will be held at the front of the fire station. At a predetermined time, fire departments across the nation will sound their sirens for one minute to honor firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty from the preceding year. The Boulder City Fire Department is located at 1101 Elm St.

Bill Wilson, a firefighter-paramedic for the Boulder City Fire Department, can be reached at 293-9228.