Annual Fire Safety Expo returns to Gurnee Mills

Lake County's Fire Safety Expo will return to Gurnee Mills Saturday, May 14. The free, interactive event, sponsored by the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association, aims to help prevent house fires and keep families safe.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Gurnee Mills' Parking Lot E, near Value City Furniture.

Multiple safety teams will demonstrate the latest fire prevention tips and give families an opportunity to learn through interactive activities while enjoying food, refreshments and prizes.

All day events for the Fire Safety Expo include: Kids Combat Challenge, Fire Safety Smoke House, Kids Fire Pole, Lake County Dive Team Exhibit, Grayslake FD Fire Safety Trailer, free Teddy Bear Clinic, Fire Safety Sprinkler Trailer, free blood pressure checks, Kids Passport to Safety and free fire truck rides.

"Gurnee Mills hosts many community events throughout the year, and the Fire Safety Expo is definitely one of our favorites," Director of Marketing and Business Development Elizabeth Striegel said.

"Fire safety affects all Lake County residents and we are delighted to team with the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association to help further educate local families on this important issue in such a fun and engaging way."

The schedule of events for the day is:

• 10 a.m.: Fire expo opens

• 10:30 a.m.: Trench rescue demonstration

• 11 a.m.: Lake County High Angle demonstration

• 11:30 a.m.: Waukegan Fire Department Bomb Squad

• 11:45 a.m.: Side by Side demonstration (of homes with a fire-sprinkler system and without)

• 12:30 p.m.: Auto extrication demonstration

• 1 p.m.: K-9 demonstration

• 1:30 p.m.: Wild Land Fire demonstration

• 2 p.m.: Raffle (Main Stage)

Gurnee Mills is at the intersection of Interstate 94 and Grand Avenue in Gurnee. For more information, call (847) 263-7500, visit www.gurneemills.com, or like Gurnee Mills on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GurneeMills.