Fire Safety Festival Saturday

An annual fire safety festival is again scheduled for this weekend.

People First of Stephens County will hold its annual Fire Safety Festival on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Emory Johnson Park in Toccoa.

According to People First Supporter Jeraldine Hayes, this year’s event will be very similar to those of past years.

“Providing an opportunity for those in attendance to learn how to escape a house on fire,” said Hayes. “The Habersham Fire Department along with Toccoa will be conducting the training. We emphasize and urge you to come out. This could actually save your lives. Along with that will be other activities. We will have food and music.”

This year’s festival will also include games and a voter registration drive.

People First of Stephens County has held this event for the past several years.

Hayes said it was born out of a tragedy.

“A few years ago, there was a severely intellectually disabled young man that was left alone and the house caught on fire,” said Hayes.

That individual passed away.

“People First, which is an advocacy group for individuals with disabilities, saw the necessity to try to provide some education, not just for individuals with disabilities, but for children, the elderly, to come out and learn how to get out of a house in case it catches on fire,” said Hayes.

For more information on Saturday’s Fire Safety Festival at Emory Johnson Park in Toccoa, call Hayes at 706-244-2646.