Activities are planned in Albert Lea next week to commemorate Fire Prevention Week.

The Albert Lea Fire Department will visit local elementary schools throughout the week to discuss fire prevention.

“It’s a time where we get out a lot of our fire safety message,” Albert Lea fire Capt. Lee DeVries said. “We like to do it year-round, but it’s a time for us to focus on it and work with kids on it. We like to get that safety message out early with them. Kids are curious, especially with fire. We want to be as safe as possible and at the ages we start talking to them at, they’re really receptive.”

The events are spread over a two-week period. The Fire Department was also at schools this week.

A poster contest is being held for fifth-graders in connection with Fire Prevention Week. All fifth-graders in the district are expected to complete a poster with a theme. The winner is selected then sent to the state contest.

Participation is rewarded. If a class has 100 percent participation they get a pizza party.

Operation EDITH will take place Wednesday. The civil defense sirens in town will sound at 7 p.m. Families are expected to practice an exit strategy in case of a fire.

An open house is also scheduled on Oct. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the fire station, 221 E. Clark St. There will be numerous displays and ladder truck demonstrations throughout the day.

In the spring, the Fire Department visits kindergarten students a second time with a video message. A T-shirt program is in place for first-graders. First-graders are given a worksheet to complete with their family and are then given a T-shirt for completing it.

Fire Department Open House tentative schedule

• 1-1:15 p.m.: Flag-raising ceremony

• 1:15-1:30 p.m.: Boat rescue demonstration

• 1:30-2 p.m.: General

• 2-2:30 p.m.: Vehicle extrication demonstration

• 2:30-2:45 p.m.: EMS demonstration

•2:45-3 p.m.: Boat demonstration (time allowing)