As part of its 70th anniversary celebration and to raise fire safety awareness, the New Stanton Volunteer Fire Department is holding a fire prevention program from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Hepler’s Hardware off Route 119.
Fire department president David Hauger said, as a result of many fire prevention events being cancelled at community events and schools this fall, the department decided to hold its own public event focusing on fire prevention.
He said there will be a truck display, an informational table with educational handouts and coloring sheets for children.
“Over decades of service, this is the first year many of the department’s fire safety events have been postponed or cancelled. We are grateful for the opportunity to reach our neighbors, especially the kids, to reinforce fire safety and encourage new volunteers,” Hauger said.
Like the fire department, Hauger noted the hardware store has been around for a long time, too. It has been located in New Stanton for 60 of its 78 years.
Megan Orient, co-owner of Hepler’s, said the store hosts a fire safety event each fall.
She said the event usually is held near the switch from daylight savings time and is a reminder for store patrons that when they change clocks.
“It is the ideal time to check and change your batteries in your smoke detectors.
“Additionally, as we approach the holidays when decorating, string lights, and extension cords are very heavily utilized, we ask the department to help reinforce electrical and other holiday safety measures,” she said.
Hauger noted that masks and social distancing are required at the public event.
According to the department’s history, a group of area residents held their first meeting to form a volunteer fire department on April 17, 1950.
More information is available at newstantonvfd.com, facebook.com/newstantonvfd25, or facebook.com/heplershardware
