EMFD Open House set for Sunday

The East Meadow Fire Department presents is annual Fire Prevention Open House on Sunday, Oct. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. at the EMFD headquarters on 197 East Meadow Avenue.

The day will include live fire demonstrations, educational handouts, free gifts, vehicle extrications, Smokey the Bear, fire truck rides, complimentary food and more.

Participants will also get the chance to meet the dedicated men and women of the East Meadow Fire Department.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on Oct. 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on Oct. 9, 1871.

Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls.