Autumn Fire Safety Tips from the Westwood Fire Dept.

The 's annual , which kicks off today at 11 a.m., usually incorporates a wide variety of activities for all ages. 

But among those activities will involve a topic of serious note - fire prevention and safety - and involve a handful of fire-related demonstrations.

"Really it's kind of a two-fold thing," said Westwood Deputy Fire Chief Mike Reardon. "One is to stress fire prevention. The other is an open house; it's not just our fire house, it's your fire house."

As far as the fire prevention portion of the day, families will watch a variety of ways to prevent fires in the home, which can be done by following a variety of fire safety tips Reardon offered: 

• Change clocks and batteries.
• Test smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors once a month.
• Have your home heating system cleaned and inspected before the winter months.
• Have chimney cleaned and inspected prior to using during the winter.

Moreover, while many look to clear their yards of brush and leaves from the fall, they can't look to burning them as a way of disposal. 

"Burning of leaves is not allowed at any time, anywhere," Reardon said. "It'll smoke like crazy."

Brush burning, which is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, runs from Jan. 15 through May 1st, Reardon said. 

Last year's open house featured a demonstration of a makeshift shelter on fire, and included the use of a sprinkler system. Firefighters also demonstrated how they respond to such fires, and even revealed their response to certain car accidents, using such equipment as the Jaws of Life. 

More fire-safety tips can be found at NFPA.org, and information from Westwood fire officials will be available today as well. 

"There's plenty of literature that will be handed out," Reardon said. "Any question that people have, we'll answer any and all questions."