Robertsville FD Open House

This Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the will host an open house.

The public will be invited into the firehouse, to explore the building our firefighters consider a second home.

National Fire Prevention week is meant to raise awareness about fire safety. Departments around the country are reminding people to test their smoke detectors.

If a resident cannot afford a new fire detector, many departments offer the alarms for free.

National Fire Prevention Week began as a way to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, which killed more than 250 people and burned 2,000 acres. The fire began on Oct. 8, but did the most damage on Oct. 9, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson signed the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, which became a week-long observance in 1922.