|
Maidstone fire station will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with a fun-packed community safety open day on Saturday 13 September. The station in Loose Road opened on 13 September 1958, after the service outgrew its old location in Market Buildings in the town centre.The event will offer a full itinerary of informative displays and community safety activities, as well as fun for all the family between 11am and 4pm.
Entry to the public is free and there will be a varied programme including a burning room that will show how quickly a house fire can develop and the dangers of not having a working smoke alarm. With accidental cooking fires still the main cause of fires in the home, visitors will be able to see the devastating effects of putting water on to a cooking oil fire, with chip pan fire demonstrator.Fire crews will be recreating a rescue from a vehicle involved in a road traffic collision and there will be a high-rise line rescue demonstration.
A number of community groups will be taking part and there will be competitions with prizes for all ages. In addition, Halfords will be offering free bicycle safety checks so people are encouraged to bring their bikes along.Firefighters will be on hand to discuss the benefits of having a free home safety visit, a service which includes fitting smoke alarms for free in homes across Kent. The visits take about 30 minutes and include tips on night-time routines, cooking safely with oil or fat, the dangers of smoking materials, care with candles, electrical safety and planning escape routes in the event of fire.
As part of its approach to Community Safety, Kent Fire and Rescue Service works closely with partner agencies - many of which will be taking part in the day itself. These include Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council road safety officers and many others. Visitors will be able to see a range of displays from these organisations. Station Manager Greg Theophanides said: "We are really looking forward to the day and welcome the involvement of our partner agencies. I am sure it will be a fun and exciting day to mark our special 50th anniversary, and provide the opportunity to get a number of safety messages across to the community.
He continued: "We would particularly like to invite old comrades who served at the fire station to join us for the day and to stay for a social gathering in the evening."Refreshments will be available.
|
