Laughter, sirens and the glow of fire trucks lit up East Meadow Fire Department headquarters on Oct. 3, as families gathered for the annual Fire Prevention Open House. The community tradition, hosted by the all-volunteer department, combined lifesaving lessons with hands-on fun, while also marking the start of Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,” focused on teaching residents how to safely buy, charge and dispose of lithium-ion batteries.
“Most electronics, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, power tools, headphones and toys, that we use in our everyday lives are powered by lithium-ion batteries,” said Commissioner Keith Hoffman. “When used properly, they’re a safe source of power, but if misused or damaged, they can overheat and start a fire, or even explode. It’s essential for the public to learn how to handle them safely.”
Residents of all ages packed the open house, where they received valuable fire safety tips and explored the firefighting and emergency medical services apparatus used by the department. There were live demonstrations, as well as interactive activities for children, including a ride on a real fire truck and a visit from Smokey Bear.
“We invite all of our neighbors to attend our annual open house, where they can meet the dedicated men and women who volunteer to protect our community, and learn more about the rescue and emergency medical services our volunteers provide,” said Commissioner Carey Welt. “The EMFD is always seeking community-minded residents to join our team, whether as firefighters or emergency medical services volunteers, and we encourage interested residents to stop by for more information.”
The East Meadow Fire Department serves East Meadow and parts of Levittown and Westbury, including Salisbury, and is always seeking new members to join as firefighters or emergency medical personnel. No prior experience is necessary; the department provides all required training. Volunteers receive benefits including tax breaks, college scholarships, annual health checkups, life insurance, and a service award pension program, all at no cost.
