Ensure family safety during Fire Prevention this week
File photo – Children learn about fire safety in the classroom.
During a fire, young children, teenagers, adults and the elderly can all be at risk, so it is important that every member of the community understand how to stay safe in case of a fire. That is the motivation behind Fire Prevention Week.
This year’s campaign theme is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.” The focus is on three essential steps we all can take to reduce the risk of a fire – and to escape safely in the event of one:
- LOOK around your home. Identify potential fire hazards, and take care of them.
- LISTEN for the sound of the smoke alarm.
- LEARN two ways out of every room, and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.
The Final Alarm and Roll Call Ceremony will begin at 3:33 p.m., at the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial Park on 2nd Street South in Wisconsin Rapids this Saturday, October 13.
In connection with Fire Prevention Week, members of the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department have been taking their fire safety truck to our local public and parochial schools to give kindergarteners and third-graders lessons in fire safety. Our firefighters should be commended for engaging our young ones to think “safety first” in the event of a fire-related incident.
And, as we think this week about fire safety, join me to honor fallen firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities, during the annual Final Alarm and Roll Call Ceremony and the Final Alarm Procession, this Saturday, October 13.
The Final Alarm and Roll Call Ceremony will begin at 3:33 p.m., at the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial Park on 2nd Street South in Wisconsin Rapids. A memorial service will be held to commemorate the firefighters who have died in the line of duty in the State of Wisconsin. The names of all Fallen Firefighters listed on the Memorial Wall will be read from the previous 10 years, accompanied by the tolling of the Memorial Bell for each.
At 7 p.m., Fire Department drivers will lead the Final Alarm Procession, a winding tour through the streets of Wisconsin Rapids that ends with a drive-by of the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial Park.
Please take time this weekend to pay tribute to those who honor us with their service.
United Way offers teachable moment about workers in our community
Did you know that many hard-working adults in our community are just “getting by” – barely able to cover basic needs, such as housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation and food? It’s a problem known as underemployment, and a number of our area’s residents have to deal with it every day.
To help clarify the magnitude of this issue and how it affects all segments of our community, United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties will present the topic, “Understanding Underemployment,” at McMillan Library, (Tomorrow) Wednesday, October 10, from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, October, 18 from 2:00 – 3:30pm.
The presentation will highlight statistics from the 2018 ALICE Report. ALICE stands for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed” – families, neighbors and colleagues who work hard and earn above the federal poverty level, but who struggle to make ends meet.
To attend this presentation, RSVP by calling 715-421-0390, or email emily@uwswac.org.
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Mayor Zach Vruwink
Blog of Wisconsin Rapids' Mayor Zach Vruwink 