Firefighter story time Friday at Melissa Lake Park anchors the library's Fire Prevention Week

A Melissa firefighter will be the guest reader at an outdoor story time Friday morning, the centerpiece of the city library's Fire Prevention Week programming that started Monday.

The library and the Melissa Fire Department are hosting the free story time at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the Melissa Lake Park amphitheater. The city's event listing promises stories, music and a chance for children to meet local firefighters, and it asks parents and caregivers to keep children with them throughout the program.

Through Saturday, Oct. 10, families can also stop by the library to pick up free goodies tied to the week. The library says its programs are first come, first served while space and supplies last, and that people arriving more than 10 minutes after a program starts may not be admitted.

This year's focus: charging

Fire Prevention Week runs Oct. 4-10 nationally. The National Fire Protection Association's 2026 theme, "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower," centers on lithium-ion batteries in phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and scooters.

The association's advice for households:

• Use the charger and cord the manufacturer approves, since mismatched equipment can damage a battery.
• Charge on a hard, flat surface such as a desk or table, not on a bed, a couch or under a pillow.
• Unplug once the device is fully charged.
• Watch for heat, swelling, smoke or odd smells, which can signal a failing battery.
• Charge e-bikes, scooters and power tools outdoors when possible, and keep them away from exits.

The NFPA says it does not yet track national home fire figures tied specifically to lithium-ion batteries, but it reports a growing number of incidents from fire departments, news outlets and other sources.

More library programs are listed on the City of Melissa's online calendar.

Sources

cityofmelissa.com

securitysystemsnews.com