Maple Ridge Fire Rescue to host public open house Oct. 3

Maple Ridge Fire Rescue will host a free, family-friendly Fire Prevention Week open house on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Fire Hall No. 4, 11240 238 St. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will give residents a chance to meet local firefighters, explore fire apparatus, take part in hands-on activities and learn ways to help keep their homes and families safe.

The open house will include safety demonstrations, fire-prevention resources, home-safety tips and emergency-preparedness information. A by-donation barbecue lunch will be hosted by the Maple Ridge Firefighters' Charitable Society, Panago Pizza will serve pizza, and prizes and giveaways will be available. Maple Ridge RCMP Safety Bear and Sparky the Fire Safety Dog are also scheduled to appear.

Fire chief Dave Samson said the event offers families a chance to connect with firefighters and learn safety habits they can use right away. This year's campaign, “Use Your Charging Superpowers,” encourages people to use the right charger, charge on a hard surface and unplug devices once fully charged to help prevent fires.

The open house launches Fire Prevention Week, running Oct. 4 to 10. The campaign focuses on safe charging practices for lithium-ion batteries used in phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, scooters and power tools.

Fire Rescue advises residents to use the cord and charger supplied with a device or approved by its manufacturer, and to charge devices on a hard, flat surface such as a table, desk or bare floor. Larger items such as e-bikes, scooters and power tools should be charged outdoors when possible and never where they could block an exit.

Residents should stop using devices that become very hot, swell, smell unusual, leak, smoke, or make popping or hissing sounds. On a plane, charging devices should remain in view; e-cigarettes and vapes should not be charged on board, and passengers should alert a flight attendant immediately if they notice a problem. Lithium-ion batteries should not be thrown in the trash; nearby safe recycling locations can be found at call2recycle.org.

More information about Fire Prevention Week and lithium-ion battery safety is available at www.nfpa.org. Fire-safety information is also available at MapleRidge.ca/FirePrevention.