Vail Fire and Emergency Services invite community members to a family-friendly Open House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at the West Vail Fire Station, 2399 N. Frontage Road. 

The family friendly event will include activities for guests of all ages, including equipment displays and a children’s obstacle course in recognition of National Fire Prevention Week. Activities will also include fire safety information on smoke alarms, exit drills, and carbon monoxide alarms presented by the Fire Prevention Division. Free hot dogs and chips will be served. 

National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11, and this year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety!” This year, the national campaign works to educate everyone about the use of lithium-Ion batteries in the home and the importance of buying, charging and recycling safely.  

Fire Prevention Week officially started in 1925 and always runs in October to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic October 1871 blaze that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.  

For more information about fire prevention, please visit NFPA.org or contact Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Ocepek at 970-477-3536 or email rocepek@vail.gov.