Schoolchildren were first in line this morning to hear all about preventing kitchen blazes at the start of Fire Safety Awareness Week.

The launch event, led by Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley at Hamilton Fire Service’s headquarters on King Street, welcomed students from St David’s and Francis Patton Primary Schools and Somersfield Academy.

The children were treated to a celebrity appearance by Sparky the Fire Dog, before being entertained by fireman Gavin Carter, who demonstrated how to be safe in the kitchen.

Mr Carter will be putting on the fire safety show for schoolchildren at the Hamilton Fire Service headquarters throughout this week,

There are also related displays at all three Bermuda Fire Service stations at Clearwater, Port Royal and Hamilton, which are open to the public until Saturday.

Firefighters and fire safety officers will be on hand to offer advice and guidance related to this year’s awareness week theme, which is “Preventing Kitchen Fires”.