COMMERCIAL POINT, Ohio — Scioto Township firefighters closed out Fire Prevention Week by rolling a fire engine onto the blacktop at Scioto Elementary School, giving kindergarten through fifth grade students a hands-on look at the equipment after a week of in-classroom fire safety lessons.
The Touch-a-Truck event capped a week in which firefighters visited every grade level at the school, the department said in a Facebook post, answering questions and walking students through this year’s national fire safety theme.
The National Fire Protection Association designated Oct. 4-10 as Fire Prevention Week this year, with the theme “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” It is the second consecutive year the national campaign, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, has focused on the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries in phones, tablets, e-bikes, scooters and other everyday devices.
Firefighters asked students and families to follow several rules when charging those devices, according to the department: use only the charger made for the specific device, keep anything charging away from beds, blankets and other material that can burn, charge electric scooters and bikes outdoors when possible, and never use a damaged battery or charger.
Scioto Township Fire Department operates out of Commercial Point and provides fire, rescue and advanced life support ambulance service to roughly 11,000 residents across the township and the villages of Commercial Point and Orient, according to the department. Its roster includes a fire chief, assistant fire chief and a mix of full-time and part-time firefighters who also respond to hazardous materials calls and trench and confined-space rescues.
The department thanked Scioto Elementary staff and students for hosting the week’s activities and said it is already looking forward to next year’s visit.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Scioto Township Fire Department.
