The Homewood Fire Department is hosting an open house for Fire Prevention Month

The Homewood Fire Department held its annual open house for National Fire Safety Month on Saturday, October 5, at the Homewood Fire Station. The event featured several booths and demonstrations about fire safety, including the main attraction where the Homewood Fire Department set fire to three small replicas of a living room outside.

The demonstration is conducted annually to show how a fire affects a space protected by a sprinkler system and a space not protected by a sprinkler system. This year, for the first time, there was a third room between the two rooms, demonstrating the benefits of closing the bedroom door when sleeping.

The rooms were about the size of a small bathroom and were enclosed on all sides except the front. Inside there was wooden and upholstered furniture.

The first room to be set on fire was labeled “unprotected” because it did not have a sprinkler system, which turns on from the ceiling when a fire is detected. When smoke began to pour through an open door into the middle of the three rooms, a fully uniformed firefighter went in and closed the door. This meant that the room was largely protected from the flames.

“You would think with the heat and the speed at which the fire was burning on the right, you would see something going on in the room with the door closed. But there is virtually no damage at all,” Homewood Fire Chief Bob Grabowski told the crowd.

Homewood firefighter Shawn Santos, one of the firefighters who attended the demonstration, said installing a sprinkler system in your home can be expensive. While it would be safer if all homes had them, realistically that’s not possible, he said.

“Most homes don’t have a sprinkler system,” Santos said, adding if your home has one, it could be above the water heater or furnace.

At the fire station, Homewood firefighters spoke with attendees and answered questions about fire safety. Sparky, the Homewood Fire Department mascot, posed for photos with attendees. Children jumped into the parked fire truck at the firehouse, grabbed the steering wheel and pretended to drive it.

Firefighters Edgar Serna and Andrew Sline stood at the Protect Fire Buddies booth and told visitors about the nonprofit organization.

“We support children with cancer and terminal illnesses by giving them everything they need – gifts, advice – and also everything the family needs,” explained Serna. “No child should have to fight their battle alone. There should always be someone there for the child and the family.”

Homewood Veterinary Care gave out Halloween candy and free $25 gift cards to new customers and educated attendees on pet fire safety. Practice manager Mary Carr’s dog, Shamus, a 9-year-old collie, wore a firefighter’s hat and vest at the Homewood Veterinary booth.

“He’s a sweet boy. He loves kids,” Carr said of Shamus. “That’s why we brought him here.”

Carr said: If your dog wears a Halloween costume, make sure he can be seen in the dark. She also advised dog owners to prevent their four-legged friends from getting their hands on Halloween candy.