Each year, as has been the case for decades, firefighters from Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company look forward to national Fire Prevention Week held in October to commemorate the anniversary of the great Chicago fire in 1871.

That’s when the firefighters have their chance to get into the township’s schools to teach youngsters how to prevent fires and to be fire safe.

This year’s national fire prevention slogan is “Not every hero wears a cape.” Coloring books and take-home pamphlets celebrate everyday heroes who take steps to do the simple tasks like checking smoke detectors every month, cleaning out the lint screens in home clothes dryers, and changing the batteries in smoke detectors twice a year.

Western Salisbury Fire Chief Joshua Wells each year includes advice on having a home fire escape plan and practicing it with all family members, messages on not playing with matches or lighters, how to “stop, drop and roll” if your clothes catch fire and many other messages to help youngsters be fire safe.

Wells said, “We see evidence time and time again of how simple fire safety messages presented to young school children when they are impressionable can last throughout their lives. That’s why we always look forward to interacting with our township’s young citizens in the early grades of their schooling.”

Wells said feedback from parents shows the students are taking the fire safety messages home with them.

Wells advises every bedroom “should have a smoke detector.” He tells the youngsters if that is not the case, the fire company will provide detectors at no charge if they take the message back to their teachers.

Firefighters like to show the youngsters the fire engines and equipment and demonstrate how firefighters attack a fire.

A popular part included in the school programs is watching firefighters transition from everyday street clothes into the heavy protective bunker gear the firefighters need to stay safe in a fire situation.

Wells said, “seeing that transition is important because a firefighter in heavy gear could be frightening to some young children if they don’t realize that a firefighter is there to help them. We tell the youngsters to never hide if a firefighter has to come to their aid. We assure them that firefighters are their friends.”