Fire prevention in spotlight

In honor of Fire Prevention Week, October 7 to 13, the Alexandria Fire Department Relief Association will host an open house. The event is set for Monday, October 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Alexandria Fire Station.

There will be demonstrations, cookies, coffee and juice. Cash door prizes will be given away. A drawing will be held but the winner need not be present to win.

A $20 donation per household is requested.

Following are some facts about your Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department:

--When a fire call is received, it takes less than three minutes for fire trucks to be on the way. On average, 25 firefighters report to the station and leave their jobs or businesses.

--Firefighters have 38 drills per year plus weekend training.

--All firefighters have first aid and emergency care training. About half the department devotes 110 extra hours to become registered emergency medical technicians.

--Alexandria has a Class 4 fire insurance rating and a Class A rural farmstead rating.

--The fire department answers an average of 200 calls per year. This, plus training, schools and meetings, takes about 12,000 volunteer man hours.

--The department carries 5,800 gallons of water to rural fire calls.

--The fire department promotes fire prevention in the schools and the community.

For information about Fire Prevention Week, visit the website www.fpw.org.

Tags: local news, fire prevention, news