This is Fire Prevention and Safety Week in Iowa, and in some communities, there will be breakfast fundraisers, educational campaigns in schools, and even a fire truck parade.
Atlantic volunteer firefighter Jake Vetter says one of the goals this year is to talk about the safe handling of lithium ion batteries, both charging them and disposing of them once they’re worn out.
“You don’t want to leave them plugged in if you’re not home, things can happen and they can overheat,” Vetter says. “Along those lines, too, is disposal. You don’t just want to throw them in your household trash. If they get crushed, they could cause a spark and start a fire, whether that’s in a dump truck or at a landfill.”
To safely dispose of lithium ion batteries, take them to a designated drop-off location or retail take-back program.
Being a volunteer firefighter isn’t easy, but Vetter says it’s worth the sacrifices.
“You never know when that pager could go off. It could be 2:30 in the morning and we might be at the fire until five or six o’clock in the morning and then you turn around and go to work at seven,” Vetter says. “But I enjoy giving back and it’s worth it to me.”
Atlantic is planning a parade at 6 P-M Saturday, which is expected to draw all sorts of emergency vehicles and firefighters from around the region.
