All Perry area residents are encouraged to stop by the Hy-Vee parking lot Saturday for Firefighter Day.

The event will include several hands on demonstrations including the Blank Children’s Hospital’s fire safety house.  The house looks similar to a motorhome but inside it’s a mobile fire safety education tool that allows children to practice getting out of a home safely if a fire were to occur.  Perry firefighters will instruct participants on how to crawl under smoke, feel doors before opening them, use a fire escape ladder and call 911.

Perry Volunteer Firefighters Association President Brent Lansman says they’re excited to host the event and if only one child is saved from injury or death through having participated in this training it will have been worth the effort.

Fire Chief Chris Hinds says working smoke alarms and home fire escape plans are the most important tools a family can have in protecting their children from fire-related injury and death.

In addition to the fire safety house, Saturday’s event will also include Life Flight and Mercy Air helicopter landings, a jaws of life demo, fire equipment displays, tours of the fire house and a meet and greet with your local firefighters.

The event is sponsored by the Perry Elks Lodge, Hy-Vee and the Perry Volunteer Firefighters Association.  It takes place Saturday from 9am-2pm in the Perry Hy-Vee Parking Lot and is open to the public.