MFRD bringing ‘Summer Safety Station’ to Bel Air Mall June 20

While shopping and getting ready for summer activities, families are invited to the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department’s “Summer Safety Station” at the Shoppes at Bel Air. On the first official day of summer, Thursday, June 20, the station will be set up from 3 to 7 p.m. at the mall’s community booth.

“We want everyone to start the summer off with safety top of mind,” Capt. Dwight Smith, MFRD’s Youth Fire Setting Prevention and Intervention Specialist, said. “With school out, children are home more often and tend to be more curious. Sometimes that curiosity leads to negligence, and negligence can lead to an accident.”

The latest data shows that burns and fires are the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for children from birth through age 19 in the United States.

“Our focus is life safety,” Smith added. “We will provide fire prevention education and at the same time offer some cool entertainment for families as well.”

Families who visit the “Summer Safety Station” can expect to participate in fire extinguisher training, meet “Pluggie the Fire Hydrant Robot” and take selfies with “Sparky the Fire Safety Mascot.” MFRD personnel will also be on-site to share tips and information on keeping kids safe from fire and burns.

The “Summer Safety Station” is organized by MFRD’s Public Fire & Life Safety Division.