Home Depot focuses on fire safety

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- As part of National Fire Safety Month, a home improvement chain is making sure families are fully aware of how to prevent fires and protect each other.

From pumpkin painting, to fire prevention tips, the Home Depot parking lot in North Haven was the place to be on Saturday.

"Today, on October 6th, every store in the company is doing a fire prevention clinic," said Frank Teta of the North Haven Home Depot.

North Haven Firefighter, Justin Cappetta, says events like this, where they interact with kids and families, are very important.

"Most people know about fire safety. We just have to reiterate it," said Cappetta, "and try to get them familiar with different things. "

Some little ones knew a little more than others.

Angelina Autore, 4, was asked where she should go if the fire alarm goes off in her home. "The front steps," she said.

In the case of a person catching on fire, Kara knows just what to do.

"If your clothes are on fire, you always want to stop, drop and roll," she said. "If the fire alarm goes off and you don't catch on fire, then you just run outside."

Since 2010, the North Haven Fire Department has had no deaths. They credit that to a grant they received where they went door to door to see who had working smoke detectors, or any at all. Over 2,000 people needed them.

"It was very surprising that people really needed the smoke detectors," said Cappetta. He also says they welcome people to come to the fire department to get a smoke detector if they don't already have one.