The Lakewood Fire Department welcomed an estimated 3,500 residents, campers, and visitors to its inaugural Fire Prevention Expo on July 20, marking the department’s first-ever summer fire safety event. Officials hailed the event as a major success, bringing families together for an afternoon of fire safety education, emergency preparedness, and community engagement.

Hosted by the Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners, Fire Chief Jonathan Yahr, Fire Prevention Specialist Sima Clapman, and members of the Lakewood Fire Department, the Expo featured interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and opportunities for attendees to meet the first responders who serve the community. Throughout the event, firefighters and members of Lakewood First Aid shared practical fire prevention and emergency response tips through hands-on activities designed for families of all ages.

One of the day’s most impactful demonstrations highlighted the national “Close Before You Doze” campaign. Firefighters burned two identical rooms—one with the bedroom door open and one with it closed—to illustrate how simply closing a bedroom door before going to sleep can slow the spread of fire, reduce heat and toxic smoke, and provide valuable extra time to escape. The Lakewood Fire Department thanked the West Windsor Fire Department for providing the specialized burn prop and assisting with the demonstration.

The Expo also showcased the close partnerships between local emergency services and community organizations. Participating agencies included the Lakewood Police Department, Lakewood EMS, Lakewood First Aid, Chaveirim, Shomrim, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the New Jersey State Police, the Ocean County Health Department, the Lakewood Municipal Utilities Authority, Jersey Central Power & Light, New Jersey Natural Gas, Chavivim, the West Windsor Fire Department, and the Jackson Township Fire Department.

Officials said the event was created to expand fire safety education during the busy summer camp season, providing campers, residents, and visitors with an opportunity to learn important life-saving skills in a fun and engaging environment.

The department also recognized Golden Fluff, Wawa, and Herr’s for donating refreshments and helping make the event more enjoyable for attendees.

Following the strong turnout and positive response from the community, the Lakewood Fire Department announced plans to make the Fire Prevention Expo an annual event, continuing its commitment to educating the public and promoting fire safety throughout Lakewood.