Fire Prevention Week 2023: Kids Learn Fire Safety with Local Events, Fire Station Tours, and Activities

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Fire Prevention Week is October 8–14, 2023, and it’s our annual reminder of the importance of fire prevention education at all ages. Starting in September, local fire departments are hosting all kinds of events. Check out our list to find a family-friendly festival complete with candy drops off a ladder truck, demonstrations of how specialized rescues are done, fire station tours, meet-and-greets with firefighters, a silent parade honoring lives lost, and more.

Even if you can’t make it to an event this year, you can help your family stay safe by checking out our list of resources. Engaging your kids in fire prevention and preparedness goes a long way in keeping everyone safe and sound!

Local Fire Prevention Week Events

Lemont Fire Protection District Open House
September 30, 2023 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Family fun event at the Lemont Station #1 Headquarters. Fire engines, ambulances, a ladder truck candy drop, and special demonstrations from various teams. Food trucks will be onsite with concessions to purchase. There will also be a K9 Comfort Dog, pumpkin decorating, face painting, kids’ firefighter dress-up, and other kids’ activities.

Warrenville Fire Protection District
October 4, 2023 | 6:00pm
Learn more about fire prevention and equipment while visiting with your local firefighters.

Clarendon Hills Fire Department Open House
October 7, 2023 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
See fire trucks and safety demonstrations while enjoying refreshments. Meet local firefighters and even Sparky the Fire Dog.

Community Hero Day (Aurora)
October 7, 2023 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Come to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum for touch-a-truck and safety demonstrations.

Hoffman Estates Fire Department Open Houses
October 7, 2023 1:00pm – 4:00pm | Firehouse 21, 225 Flagstaff Lane
October 14, 2023 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm | Fire Station 23, 1300 Westbury
October 21 2023 from 1:00pm – 4:00 pm | Fire Station 24, 5775 Beacon Pointe Drive

A different Hoffman Estates Fire Department fire station will be giving tours and open for visits on each of the first three Saturdays in October.

Fire Department Storytime (Aurora)
October 8, 2023 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This special storytime at the Santori Library in Aurora, with firefighters from the Aurora Fire Department and their fire truck.

Elmhurst Fire Department Open House
October 8, 2023 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Educational activities, light refreshments, station tours, and lots of fun. There will also be a presentation on child passenger safety seating.

Western Springs Fire Department Open House
October 9, 2023 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Firefighter challenge course, put out a “fire” using a real fire hose, take a picture with Sparky, and enjoy giveaways.

La Grange Fire Department Open House
October 10, 2023 | 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Join La Grange Fire Department for an evening of family fun and fire prevention education. Emergency vehicle and equipment display, refreshments, fire sprinkler demonstration, appearance from Sparky the Fire Dog and more.

Fire Department Open House (Lombard)
October 11, 2023 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Lombard’s festivities will be held at Fire Station 45, where families can meet first responders and watch safety demonstrations.

Night at the Firehouse (Downers Grove)
October 11, 2023 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Meet firefighters, play games, and tour Fire Station 5.

Silent Parade (Hinsdale, Westmont, Lemont, Lisle)
October 13, 2023 | 7:00pm
This parade pays tribute to all those who have lost their lives to fire and features fire department vehicles from surrounding neighborhoods. All emergency vehicles will display lights only; no sirens will be sounded. The Silent Parade will start in Hinsdale (gather in front of Village Hall) and travel west on Chicago Avenue through Westmont. The route continues to Naperville Road and ends in Lisle. The public is invited to attend and stand along the parade route holding a flashlight in honor of those who lost their lives.

Community Helpers: Meet the Fire Department (Wheaton)
October 13, 2023 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Come meet Wheaton firefighters at the Wheaton Public Library’s West Plaza. Take pictures, check out firefighter gear, and see a fire truck.

Fire Open House (Bartlett)
October 14, 2023 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Join the fun at Fire Station 3, including an obstacle course for kids, and safety demonstrations.

Community Open House (Arlington Heights)
October 14, 2023 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Come see the Village’s vehicles, meet staff, and learn about public safety at this family-friendly event hosted by the Police, Fire, and Public Works departments. Located in front of the Arlington Heights Police and Fire Stations on Sigwalt Street.

St. Charles Fire Department Open House
October 14, 2023 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Dive team demonstration, emergency vehicles, live fire demonstrations, refreshments, and more.

Bolingbrook Fire Department
October 14, 2023 | 10:00am – 3:00pm
Nicor Gas will be onsite educating families on how to respond in the case of a gas emergency. There will also be demonstrations and an opportunity to meet your local firefighters. Located at Fire Station No. 4 at 1111 W. Boughton Road in Bolingbrook.

Westmont Fire Department Open House
October 14, 2023 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Westmont will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary Open House. Come help support and learn more about fire prevention at the Johanik Fire Station Headquarters.

Streamwood Fire Department Open House
October 14, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
See equipment, get a tour of the station, see rescue demonstrations, and more. Hands-on fire extinguisher training and the chance to spray a real fire hose, too.

Hinsdale Fire and Police Open House
October 14, 2023 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Get escape plan tips, fire extinguisher demo and testing, play “Fight that Fire” game for kids, meet officers and firefighters, see the fire trucks, and get a tour of the fire and police departments. There will also be a bounce house, DJ, and food to celebrate. Located at the Hinsdale Fire and Police Departments at 121 Symonds Drive in Hinsdale.

Villa Park Fire Department Open House
October 14, 2023 | 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Family-friendly activities, food, tours, and raffles at Villa Park Fire House 81.

sparky-fire-prevention-week-western-springs

Virtual and At-Home Activities

NFPA Virtual Fire Protection Week
This virtual protection week has games, apps, and videos to help teach your children the importance of fire safety. The 2023 theme is “Cooking safety starts with YOU.”

Ready Kids
Ready Kids helps your family prepare a disaster kit and helps your family create a plan if a disaster were to occur. There are games and books to help your kids think of way to prepare and plan, so if anything were to happen, everyone is ready and safe.

Sparky
Sparky offers kids fun activities, games, apps, and videos to make learning about fire prevention fun! Printable and music videos are to engage kids in their education.

FireSafeKid
FireSafeKid offers printable, mazes, and games about burn fire prevention.

Safe Kids Worldwide
This website gives information about carbon monoxide for each age group. You select the age group of your child and it explains how to discuss carbon monoxide in a developmentally appropriate way.

Ideas for Community Outreach

  • Write letters to your local fire station and firefighters thanking them for their service.
  • Create your own fire safety video (and tag us so we can share it!).
  • Send your local fire station a catered food delivery or drop off baked goods (always call station ahead to ask if food is welcomed, as well as for details about timing and any food allergies).

For more kid-friendly events in the western suburbs, be sure to check out the Kidlist event calendar.

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