No one wants to see the fire department pull up outside their home, sirens blaring and lights flashing.
To help prevent that, Langley’s firefighters are hosting a number of events starting this weekend, as they kick off Fire Prevention Week, from Oct. 5 to 11.
Up first for both City and Township firefighters are presentations encouraging people to fit out their homes with smoke alarms, and to test them regularly.
On Saturday, from about 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Township Fire Department will have firefighters at the Home Depot in Langley, where they’ll be hosting a smoke alarm presentation.
They’ll have inexpensive alarms there, said assistant fire chief Pat Walker.
Coming up later this month, on Oct. 15, is the annual presentation of awards to the Township’s Fire Safety Stars.
“It’s a big event for us,†said Walker.
The event honours civilians who have done their bit for fire safety over the past year. Honorees will include people who helped out in emergency situations as well as those who have spearheaded efforts towards greater community safety.
The honorees will come for a luncheon and ceremony at Fire Hall 6.
Langley City Fire Rescue Service will be going all out starting on Saturday, Oct. 4, when they kick off events at the Save-On-Foods in the 20100 block of Fraser Highway.
From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., firefighters will bag groceries and give away free reusable shopping totes while sharing fire safety tips and information.
Then on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., they’ll hold their annual open house at the City fire hall, at 5785 203 Street.
Visitors will get to meet the firefighters, tour the hall, and watch live fire demonstrations.
For kids in Langley City, there will be a draw for the name of one lucky elementary school student from each City school to win a draw to ride to school in a fire truck.
Langley Township also has firehall open houses, but holds them during the summer.