Fire department open house set for Thursday

The Brainerd Fire Department will host its annual open house from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday at the Brainerd Fire Station, 23 Laurel St.

This year's theme is "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." There will be learning stations and displays for everyone, including firefighting technique demonstrations, local law enforcement, North Ambulance, DNR, Firepup and McGruff. Various community businesses will display ways to make our community a safer place to live.

Home fire escape basic planning:

-Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and have one inside each bedroom and outside of each sleeping area. For the best protection, interconnect alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound.

-Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

-Develop a fire escape plan that identifies two ways out of each room and a family meeting place outside.

-Make sure your plan allows for any specific needs in your household. If everyone knows what to do, everyone can get out quickly.

-Practice using the plan, at least twice a year. If everyone knows that everyone else is ready to exit quickly, no one will lose precious time trying to help someone who doesn't need help.

-Some children and adults may not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm. They may need help to wake up.