COLD LAKE - Cold Lake Fire Rescue welcomed the community to informative open houses on Oct. 8, held at both the north and south fire halls.
The event was part of National Fire Prevention Week. Families and children enjoyed a free barbecue, got an inside look at the fire halls, and interacted with firefighters, all while learning vital fire safety tips.
“Families can come down, have a hot dog, a cheeseburger. We have tons of little knick-knacks and prizes for kids - crayons and colouring books and lunch kits, that kind of stuff, fire hats,” said Barry McLaughlin, assistant chief of the City of Cold Lake and station chief for the Lake District Station.
"We also have some giveaways of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. We'll give to families randomly out through the evening.”
The open house offered families the chance to tour the fire station, meet local firefighters, and learn about the crucial role of smoke alarms in fire safety.
“It's good awareness for the public to know that we are here and come and visit us and meet the firefighters,” McLaughlin said, adding, there is sometimes a misconception that the older fire hall had shut down after the newer south fire station opened.
"We still do have two fire departments.”
As fire safety was the core message of the evening, McLaughlin shared practical advice on smoke alarms. “They're kind of your first line of defense . . . So it's important to check them at least twice annually, check the batteries, change the batteries, test them. If you want, test them monthly.”
He stressed the importance of regular maintenance and awareness of fire alarms, adding, “A lot of them take batteries, so it's just dead batteries people forget. Myself, being in the fire service 25 years plus, I forget sometimes to go and double-check myself . . . So just routinely test them, get into a routine.”
McLaughlin also emphasized the importance of fire prevention, noting that events like this help raise awareness and encourage regular safety checks.
