BRISTOL, Tenn. — Families who stopped by Fire Station 5 on Saturday got a close look at how the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department works, and a lesson this year aimed squarely at the lithium batteries that power phones, scooters and tools in most homes.
The yearly open house, held at the station close to The Pinnacle shopping area, was the department’s main public event for Fire Prevention Month. Admission was free and the day was open to all ages, with tours of the station and the trucks parked outside so visitors could climb up and look inside the equipment crews use on calls.
Lithium battery safety was the chosen theme. Administrative Captain Jason Hilton said many people do not realize the hazards those batteries can carry, and that the open house is a way for residents to see what the department does and how crews do it.
Hilton said the day is especially popular with small children, who came ready to see the engines up close. Children were a big part of the audience. The schedule leaned on hands-on activities and games built to teach young visitors the basics of fire prevention, and families went home with fire safety pamphlets and coloring books.
Firefighter and paramedic Austin Arnold said prevention often comes down to small habits, such as blowing out candles and switching off appliances that are not being used. He said reaching people while they are young may already be cutting down on fires in the city or stopping some before they start.
The battery focus fits a growing worry for fire crews. Phones, e-bikes, scooters, laptops and cordless tools all rely on lithium cells, and Hilton said a lot of residents simply have not heard about the risks those batteries can pose when they are charged or stored carelessly.
Fire Prevention Month runs through the end of October, and the department uses the open house each year to give Bristol residents a better picture of the people and equipment that answer their calls.
Section: More Bristol TN crime news
Filed under: Bristol TN Public Safety News
