Escalon firefighters will be heading out later this week for some educational programs, helping school children learn the basics of fire prevention.

As they do each year during Fire Prevention Week, the local firefighters will put on informational assemblies at local schools. Crews will be at Dent Elementary on Friday, Oct. 10 for a series of programs, broken up by grade level, starting at 8:45 a.m. and running until noon. At 1 p.m., they will be at Van Allen Elementary for a full school assembly.

Also, firefighters remind residents that now is the time to check your smoke detector batteries and replace them. Those that need assistance can contact the fire department, as they have a free battery replacement program. Call 838-7500 to schedule a smoke detector check.

In Farmington, school children also typically take a field trip to the nearby firehouse but they will be taking the tour this year in November, due to paving replacement work going on currently at the firehouse.