Kane County Reporter

The St. Charles Fire Department will host an Open House at Fire Station #1, located at 112 N. Riverside Avenue, on Saturday, September 6 from noon to 3 p.m. The event is part of the department’s recognition of Fire Prevention Week.

This year’s theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,” focuses on educating the community about safe practices for using lithium-ion batteries. The campaign highlights the importance of buying certified products, charging devices correctly, and recycling batteries responsibly to prevent fire hazards.

Attendees at the Open House can expect a range of activities including live fire demonstrations, special rescue operations, a firefighter combat challenge for children, fire extinguisher demonstrations, and a live burn/sprinkler demonstration showing how home sprinkler systems work. There will also be activities for children, refreshments, and informational displays about department programs and general safety concerns.

The department stresses three main steps for safely using lithium-ion batteries: purchase only certified products with safety marks such as UL, ETL or CSA; use manufacturer-provided chargers and cords while following all instructions; and recycle used batteries at certified locations rather than placing them in household trash or regular recycling bins.

In addition to the Open House event, firefighters will visit local schools to provide fire safety education to students across the community.

“Fire Prevention Week aims to educate the public about the small but essential steps that can help prevent fires and keep families safe,” according to information provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which has sponsored this annual campaign for over 90 years. More details about Fire Prevention Week are available at www.fpw.org.

The St. Charles Fire Department encourages residents to participate in this year’s campaign as a reminder to practice safe habits when using lithium-ion batteries.