There will be a new attraction at the Homewood Fire Department’s annual open house this year, a ride. The Illinois State Patrol will bring its Seat Belt Convincer apparatus to provide guests with an experience that helps remind them about the importance of wearing seat belts.
blaze used to demonstrate the effect of
sprinkler systems during the 2016 Homewood
Fire Department open house. A similar
demonstration is planned for the open house
Saturday, Oct. 7. (Chronicle file photos)
There will be a new attraction at the Homewood Fire Department’s annual open house this year, a ride.
The open house at the fire department, 17950 Dixie Highway in Homewood, will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include a number of activities and demonstrations that help kids learn about fire safety and have fun at the same time.
demonstrate vehicle
extrication techniques
during the 2016
fire department open
house.
The new ride is a very short one. The Illinois State Patrol will bring its Seat Belt Convincer apparatus to provide guests with an experience that helps remind them about the importance of wearing seat belts.
The seat belt convincer simulates a 5 to 7 mile per hour crash. Participants get a glimpse of what it might be like to be involved in a car crash, according to the state patrol’s website.
Homewood Science Center will host a PopUp Science session on inertia. There will be games, an obstacle course and opportunities to test knowledge of fire and fire safety.
The “smoke house” trailer will be available so kids can get an idea what it’s like to be in a smoke-filled home and, with help from firefighters, learn how to safely escape.
Two popular demonstrations are expected to be back. Each year, local firefighters show how they perform extrications from vehicles by sawing and prying open a damaged car.
The sprinkler demonstration uses live fire to show the dramatic difference sprinkler systems can make in keeping fire at bay until firefighters arrive.
The open house is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.