Fire Safety Week ignited Saturday afternoon with a fun castle, tours of the fire station and a fire safety show at the Hamilton Fire Station.

The open house began at noon and ran until 4 p.m. Families were taken on a tour of a station, with one member of the public treated to the dizzying experience of going up the aerial ladder on one of the fire trucks.

?We had face painting, a remote control car race, the kids were taken on a horse and buggy ride, there were food stalls and a draw to give away smoke alarms and portable fire extinguishers,? Bermuda Fire Service spokesperson Lt. Dana Lovell said. Children also got to meet Sparky, the Bermuda Fire Service fire safety dog, and were treated to an hour-long show on fire safety hosted by firefighter Arthur Raynor, who heated things up with his humour.

Children called up on stage to participate in the show demonstrated fire safety maxims such as ?stop, drop and roll?.

?We try to teach in a non-threatening way,? Lt. Lovell explained. ?For example, matches are adult tools ? not toys.?

Fire Safety Week will continue this week, he said. Groups interested in touring the Hamilton and Port Royal Fire Stations can call to schedule a time. ?We are more than happy to organise a tour,? said Lt. Lovell.

Mr. Raynor?s fire safety show will also continue throughout the week, with two shows scheduled a day, he added. For more information, call the Bermuda Fire Service at 292-5555.