Our volunteer fire departments are taken for granted by many of us.

We generally don’t pay heed to the men and women committed to protecting our lives and property until we need them.

Most people don’t realize the many hours they spend of their own time training and becoming skilled in all sorts of firefighting duties, including rescues from burning buildings.

They learn the proper methods of fighting virtually any type of fire properly, including those involving dangerous and hazardous chemicals.

In fact, did you know such dangerous chemicals the pose risks to firefighters exist in every home, whether it be the substances in furniture, carpeting or stored cleaning materials?

Firefighters also learn how to extricate individuals from vehicle crashes safely and as swiftly as possible.

We could go on and on about their contributions, but the point is, we don’t appreciate their service enough.

A week from today, the Diligence Fire Company of Summit Hill will hold a dedication program for two new trucks. Firetrucks today cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Besides training and fighting fires, these volunteers raise money to pay for the apparatus.

There will be a vehicle parade preceding the dedication, with the formal program scheduled to begin sometime after 1 p.m.

After the dedication event, an important observation occurs for most fire companies: Fire Prevention Week this year is Oct. 5-11.

During the week, many of these volunteers take time from their busy schedules to host Fire Prevention Week activities, which include educating the public on preventing fires and holding open houses to let the community visit and see firsthand their facilities and equipment.

Firefighters during the week also visit schools and bring apparatus, put on demonstrations and teach students, especially at the elementary level. Lessons are stressed like “stop, drop and roll” or the importance of having an escape and meet-up plan if a fire occurs.

Ever wonder why Fire Prevention Week is the first week in October?

Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week.

In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. It means that this marks the 100th anniversary of the formal national proclamation of Fire Prevention Week.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

Although the Great Chicago Fire is one of the most historically renowned blazes in the United States, it was one of numerous incomprehensible, deadly fires that occurred at the same time.

On that hot, dry and windy autumn day, three other major fires occurred in the upper Midwest.

Flames destroyed the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and a dozen other villages, killing 1,200 to 2,500 people and charring about 1.5 million acres of woodlands.

Although people across the country learned quickly of the Chicago fire, the Peshtigo fire was hardly mentioned in the media of the day because of its remoteness and lack of communication methods.

The town of Holland, Michigan, and other nearby areas burned to the ground, as did the lumbering community of Manistee, Michigan.

On Oct. 9, 1871, a fire swept through the city of Urbana, Illinois, destroying portions of its downtown area.

Today, immeasurable fires still occur, especially along the Pacific Coast and in western Canada. Even locally, we see woodland fires burn for days and consume hundreds of acres.

For most fires, especially dwelling fires, local volunteers generally contain the blazes very quickly. Modern apparatus such as that purchased by Diligence Fire Company, trained volunteers and especially mutual camaraderie among departments from different communities keep us as safe as possible.

Recently, the Mahoning Valley Fire Company had its annual fun event, which is unique. It’s heralded by the fire department as a “Celebration of Community” in which the volunteers publicly thank the community for its continued support.

It would be great if all local fire departments felt supported enough by the local populace to host such “thank you” parties.

One way to show appreciation to all local fire volunteers is contribute to their fund drives. Diligence Fire Company is kicking off its drive within the next week or so.

The fund drive is important to upgrading gear, replacing worn breathing apparatus, maintaining apparatus and even buying new equipment.

Incidentally, each year there is a theme with Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home. The campaign focuses on educating the public about the safe use, charging and disposal of lithium-ion batteries, which power many common devices but can pose fire risks if mishandled.