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As part of Fire Prevention Week, Operation EDITH will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday. EDITH stands for Exit Drill In The Home. When hearing the sirens sound, residents should practice how to exit their homes in case of a fire.

In addition, Albert Lea Fire Rescue will hold its annual open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the fire station, 417 S. Newton Ave. There will be a live demonstration at 11:30 a.m. Come learn about fire prevention, get to know the firefighters and see what they do.

This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” The campaign works to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 54%. Meanwhile, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Safety tips and guidelines include:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.