This is Fire Prevention Week, and among the area departments with activities planned, or those which have taken place, is the Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department. Captain Tom Cappel says the week began with a great turnout Sunday for their donation breakfast. Other activities include visits to area schools, which is supported by the donation breakfast.

Still to come is the Annual Fire Prevention Week parade. The event takes place on Saturday, beginning at 6-p.m. Cappel says the event honors not just local firefighters and those who support them, but the cooperative spirit all the area fire departments share. It’s also a chance for the departments to showcase some of the new and antique fire trucks.

Cappel says it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in firefighting equipment, when you consider how primitive the technology was. He says looking back at some old photos, fires used to be fought with a horse-drawn wagon and pumper. Firefighters back in the day had to contend with smoke inhalation as they fought the flames in close proximity, but crews these days have self-contained breathing apparatus, flame resistant gear, and tools that can detect a victim trapped in a structure, not to mention high-volume pumper trucks that can dispense fire retardant foam or pressurized water.

The Fireman’s Parade starts at 2^nd and Walnut in Atlantic on Saturday, and proceed down Chestnut Street. The Shriners will lead-off the parade, which will be telecast on KJAN.com.