As part of Fire Prevention Week/Month, the Vigilant Hose Company in Emmitsburg will hold its annual open house on Thursday, October 11th from 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM.  Although fire prevention should be a year-round activity, Vigilant officials say Fire Prevention Week/Month is an excellent time to remind citizens about fire prevention and other safety issues.

This year's theme for Fire Prevention Week/Month is "It's Fire Prevention Week: Have 2 ways out."

Visitors to the fire hall at 25 West Main Street can learn about fire prevention, preparations for emergencies, residential sprinkler systems, life-saving skills and crime prevention. There will also be rides in the fire trucks, a tradition with Vigilant that goes back more than 50 years.

As part of Fire Prevention Week/Month, by special arrangement, "The CARES Mobile Safety Unit" Mobile Safety Van will be a part of the VHC event. It's sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomburg School of Public Health/Center for Injury Research and Policy. CARES stands for Children ARE Safe.

Vigilant Hose Company expects a large turnout. This is the 58th year that VHC has held an open house as part of Fire Prevention Week/Month.