Fire Prevention Week in Central New York

Did you change those batteries in your smoke detectors yet? The Utica Fire Department is reminding youngsters to do so as a part of National Fire Prevention Week.

This year's fire prevention campaign focuses on preventing the leading causes of house fires, which are cooking, heating and electrical equipment.

All week long, Utica Firefighters will be visiting elementary schools to get the message across.

Six-year-old Joey, his uncle is a firefighter and has taught him everything he needs to know about fire safety.

Joey is really Utica Firefighter Joe Puleo.

Every year he has been changing up the characters to teach children, like students at John F. Hughes Elementary all about fire prevention.

They learned to "not to play with matches and in case there is a fire, you get out as fast as you can," explained seven-year-old Kaedin Stevens.

"You always make a plan and you always plan ahead," said student Alexis Gromling-Peppers.

Joey is also reminding students to check their smoke detectors.

"We normally try to change our batteries twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. I try to let them remember in the fall time... Halloween. They remember they are going to get dressed up. So it's to remind their parents know it's time to change their batteries in their smoke detectors," said Puleo.

And it's working.

"Through the community I see the kids out in the community and they say hey I remember you. You told me to change my batteries. I remember you told me to have a plan to get out of my house. And as they get older it sticks with them. And that's what we want to bring it home to their families and remember it as they get older," said Puleo.

The Utica Fire Department says to test smoke alarms monthly and replace all smoke alarms if they are older than ten years.