Halloween is one of the busiest nights of the year for volunteer fire departments — but many emergencies are preventable. From trick-or-treat visibility and costume safety to fire hazards and party precautions, simple steps can keep your family and neighborhood safe. Learn practical Halloween safety tips that help ensure the only scare this year is part of the fun.

February centers on heart service and caring for others, making it an ideal time to highlight the need for volunteer firefighters. Volunteer departments protect millions of residents yet face growing call volumes and declining membership. Volunteers remain the backbone of fire protection where paid staffing is not affordable. With flexible roles training provided and strong community ties serving, it helps keep essential emergency services available.