Oshawa families learn fire safety and emergency prep at Station 5 safety day

Oshawa families took part in Oshawa Fire Services' annual Community Safety Day at Fire Station 5 on Harmony Road North on Saturday, where firefighters, Durham Regional Police and the Canadian Red Cross offered hands-on fire-prevention and emergency-preparedness lessons, Wesal TV reports.

Demonstrations included a high-angle rescue with firefighters rappelling from the station's hose tower and an auto-extrication exercise involving an overturned vehicle and a simulated trapped passenger. Chief Fire Prevention Officer Andy Banga reminded families to keep working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, maintain a home escape plan, and practise it regularly.

The event also highlighted this year's Fire Prevention Week theme, "Charge Into Fire Safety": residents were advised to charge lithium-ion devices with the manufacturer-supplied charger on hard surfaces, keep them off beds and pillows, and charge e-bikes outside when possible.