MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - October is Fire Prevention Month. The Meridian Township Fire Department has many programs to help teach fire prevention to all ages, but during October their main focus is to teach children about fire prevention.

Students receive activity books and other items such as their own red fire helmet as they learn about fire prevention. While visiting the schools, Meridian Township Fire Inspector Tavis Millerov said their goal for the younger children is, "So our biggest thing with the little kids is come towards the firefighter, don't be scared. That's what we want them to know."

As for the third, fourth, and fifth graders Fire Inspector Millerov explained, "It's more a little bit advance thinking for the third, fourth, and fifth graders of really seeing a hazard and knowing the consequences of doing something with that hazard could be."

Each year the theme for Fire Prevention Month changes, this year's theme is "Don't Wait, Check the Date!" This is to encourage everyone to check the date of their smoke alarms and replace them every 10 year.

"They have these sealed lithium ion battery ones now that have 10 year life on it, and so it's basically you set it and when the thing beeps and says it's dead you throw it out, you get a new one. Very simple. The only thing you have to do then is check the function of it, a little button to push the test, every month," said Millerov.

Not all smoke alarms are made to be thrown in the trash once they expire. The National Fire Protection Association encourages everyone to check the back of their smoke alarm to find out what kind it is and then contact the manufacture on how to dispose of it. The Meridian Township Fire Department will be offering a hand out on further information on smoke alarms all month long.