This past Thursday, I turned on the car radio in time to catch a news broadcast about a house fire in Salisbury Township.

Volunteer firefighters from Eastern Salisbury, Western Salisbury, Fountain Hill, Se-Wy-Co and Emmaus fire departments were called out from the comfort of their homes to fight a 2 a.m. fire in the 1400 block of Lehigh Avenue.

Over the years of their volunteer service, these men and women have missed many family meals and important events because they needed to fight a fire or rescue someone from a lake, hiking trail or motor vehicle following an accident.

If performing their firefighting duties wasn't enough, these dedicated individuals also spend time away from their families holding fundraisers, serving breakfasts or making fastnachts and hoagies to purchase equipment and other needed items.

This year, Oct. 7-13 is National Fire Prevention Week, a time when firefighters educate children and adults on fire prevention and safety.

National Fire Prevention week has been observed the Sunday through Saturday in which Oct. 9 falls in order to commemorate the Great Chicago fire that killed 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed 17,400 buildings and burned more than 2,000 acres Oct. 8 and 9, 1871.

This year's theme focuses on having two escape routes out of a building in the event of a fire.

To show the volunteer firefighters in your neighborhood your gratitude, send them a thank-you letter or email, volunteer at one of their fundraisers or bring them a tray of home-baked cookies.

Stop in a fire station this week or next, maybe at one of the open houses being held, and thank a firefighter for his or her service to the community.

To learn more about fire prevention week, its history and fire safety tips to practice with your children at home, visit www.nfpa.org.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press