Lloydminster Fire Rescue (LFR) opened the doors of Fire Station #2 on Oct. 1, welcoming families for an interactive open house aimed at sparking early awareness for Fire Prevention Week.
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The event served as a local kickoff for the national awareness campaign running Oct. 4–10, which this year zeroes in on the hazards of battery and charging safety.
With lithium-ion batteries now powering everything from smartphones and power tools to electric scooters, assistant Fire Chief Chad Penner warned that improper charging and storage habits pose a growing fire risk in homes.
“We have had, in the City of Lloyd, two fires that I know of that I’ve investigated that have been because of lithium-ion batteries—whether they’re being overcharged, not being charged properly, or being charged in the wrong place,” Penner said. “If not charged properly or stored properly, can be very dangerous.”
Penner highlighted everyday habits that can signal potential danger, such as sleeping with a phone charging on a bed.
“You wake up in bed with your phone next to you, your phone’s kind of warm—that warmth should be a warning sign that things could go wrong,” he said, emphasizing that simple habits can prevent devastating incidents.
The free, family-friendly event gave residents a chance to tour the fire station, inspect equipment, practice using fire extinguishers, try out a water hose target shoot and meet firefighters alongside Sparky the Fire Dog.
While bouncy castles and plastic firefighter hats kept younger visitors entertained, Penner noted the turnout provided a valuable opportunity to connect with adults.
“A big part of my job is public education, and this is one of our big events of the year where we can publicly educate a lot of people in one fell swoop,” Penner said. “Kids may not care too much about charging batteries, but you get the kids in here and we can always talk to the parents at the same time.”
Penner, who is approaching his one-year mark serving the local community, praised the strong turnout and welcoming atmosphere from residents.
“I honestly didn’t know Lloyd had this many kids, and it’s great to see them out here,” Penner said. “It’s been a really great, really welcoming community.”
Residents seeking further resources on lithium-ion safety, battery maintenance, and home fire prevention can learn more online at fpw.org or via the City of Lloydminster at Lloydminster.ca/LFR.
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