The Covington Fire Department is teaching the community about fire safety with educational programs and events for Fire Safety Awareness Month.

Jonathan Fuqua, CFD Fire Safety Specialist, was hired as the department’s fire safety educator in August.

Fuqua, who previously worked with Newton County Fire Services for nine years, now oversees The F.I.R.E. Place, a fire safety house located on Ivy Street in Covington, where a number of classes and fire safety programs are taught. Fuqua said an open house for the building is planned, but informational classes and programs are already being taught at the facility.

Fire prevention and education programs include fire-extinguisher training, a smoke detector program through which detectors are installed by the CFD, educational classes for workplace safety, and other programs. CPR classes are also taught for $6.

Fuqua said for Fire Safety Month this year, the focus is on educating people about cooking fires.

In the safety house, there’s a cooking fire simulation that shows what can happen if water is thrown on a grease fire.

The simulation shows families steps to take to prevent kitchen fires, Fuqua said.

The fire safety house also has an equipped bedroom simulation, where children can learn the proper way to exit a bedroom in case of a fire. Community outreach is also part of Fuqua’s program, and CFD’s "Family Fun Night" is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 17 at Walmart, 10300 Industrial Blvd. The event will feature fire education demonstrations, free food and giveaways. Fuqua said a helicopter will be at the event, as well as officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Covington Police Department and about 30 other agencies.

For more information about programs at The F.I.R.E. Place, call 678-712-9387.