HFD open house October 9

The public is invited to attend the Henderson Fire Department Open House on Saturday, October 9, 2010 during National Fire Prevention Week.

The event will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Henderson Fire Station No. 2 at 205 N. Garnett Street in Henderson, North Carolina.

Plan to bring your family for this fun, community event. Fire Safety information will be shared with everyone and there will be lots of activities for children. All attendees also can receive free hot dogs, chips and drinks. Drawings will be held for door prizes and gift certificates.

All students in kindergarten through sixth grade also are urged to participate in the Fire Safety Coloring Contest with winners announced during the Open House on October 9. Coloring contest prizes include first-place awards in three age groups: kindergarten through first grade; second through third grade; and fourth through sixth grade. The first-place winners in each group will be able to spend a half day at the fire station and be “Chief for the Day.” They’ll also get to eat lunch with the firefighters. Details will be worked out with their parents and the winners’ time at the station will be scheduled for a non-school day. Winners in each category for the first, second and third-place entries will receive ribbons.

Teachers interested in having their students participate in the contest are encouraged to do so.

Guidelines for the Coloring Contest include:

Each entry should follow the Fire Prevention Week theme, “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!” or a fire safety issue;

Students are asked to draw their own pictures, color them and place them on poster board, if possible (poster board is preferred, but entries on regular paper will be accepted);

On the back of each entry the student needs to write their name, age, phone number, grade and school they attend;

Entries need to be turned in by September 30, 2010 to the Henderson Fire Station No. 2 on N. Garnett Street;

City firefighters will be judging the entries to select winners;

The Fire Chief will announce the Coloring Contest winners at 4:00 p.m. during the Open House;

City fire officials will contact student winners before the Open House to let them know about their award, so that they can attend the Open House to receive their recognition and prizes;

Lt. Michelle King, fire prevention officer for the Henderson Fire Department, says she can come to our schools to collect entries if we have groups of students to participate. Teachers who have their students participate in the Coloring Contest should contact Lt. King by phone at 252.438.7315 or by e-mail at msatterwhite@ci.henderson.nc.us.