Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
The Middletown Township Fire and Emergency Services Department hosted its annual Fire Prevention Expo on Saturday, October 11, drawing hundreds of families to the Restaurant Depot parking lot in Langhorne for a day of learning, fun, and safety education. The free event, part of Fire Prevention Month, aimed to raise awareness about fire safety and ensure that residents of all ages are better prepared to protect their homes and loved ones from the dangers of fire.
The Expo brought together the department’s four volunteer fire companies, Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company, Parkland Fire Company, Penndel Fire Company, and William Penn Fire Company, alongside the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad, the Bucks County Special Operations Team, and numerous local vendors and safety organizations. From live demonstrations and emergency vehicle displays to food trucks and family-friendly activities, the event transformed the parking lot into a lively hub of education and excitement.
“We really wanted to make this event as interactive and educational as possible,” said Riley Collins, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, and Fire Prevention Officer for Middletown Township Fire and Emergency Services, who organized the event. “The purpose is to educate the public about fire safety and general public safety. We brought all of our departments together in the township to spread that message.”
This year’s national Fire Prevention Week theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home”, was a central focus of Middletown’s Expo. The campaign highlighted the growing risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and power tools.
“Lithium-ion battery fires have become a big concern,” Collins explained. “We’ve had several recent incidents locally, including an electric vehicle fire in Penndel Borough that took about three hours to extinguish. So this year, we really wanted to spread awareness about electric vehicle fires and lithium battery safety.”
Fire Marshal Alan Welsh Jr. echoed that sentiment, noting that these types of fires are becoming increasingly common in homes. “These batteries are pretty much everywhere today, in the phones we charge every night, laptops, power tools, you name it,” he said. “We’ve seen fires in the township caused by these batteries overheating or being charged improperly. I always remind people to use the chargers that came with the product and to charge devices on hard surfaces, not on couches or mattresses.”
Welsh referenced a recent local incident as a reminder of the real risks. “We had a fire caused by a laptop sitting on top of a mattress,” he said. “It overheated and the batteries exploded. It’s small things like that that people often don’t think about, but they can make a huge difference in preventing fires.”
The “Charge into Fire Safety” campaign outlines three key steps for using lithium-ion batteries safely:
Residents were encouraged to visit call2recycle.org to find safe recycling locations nearby.
Learning Through Hands-On Experiences
One of the most popular attractions at the Expo was the department’s Fire Safety House, an inflatable, walk-through educational tool that simulates real-life fire safety scenarios. “We purchased this fire safety blow-up house about three years ago,” said Darrel Martin, firefighter with Middletown Township Fire and Emergency Services. “It’s designed to provide fire safety facts and interactive questions for kids of all ages.”
Inside the house, children explored rooms like a living room, kitchen, and bedroom, each filled with teachable moments. “It gives kids the chance to crawl below inflatable smoke, because smoke rises, and teaches them to stay low to stay safe,” Martin explained. “It covers everything from 911 awareness to fireplace safety. It’s a fun, hands-on way for kids to learn what to do.”
Firefighters guided children through the experience, offering safety tips and reinforcing lessons. “We use it at schools, assemblies, and events like this,” Martin said. “It’s a way for them to actually practice what they’ve been taught.”
The department also brought along a fire extinguisher training prop, allowing children and adults alike to practice putting out a mock fire. “We even put helmets on the kids and let them go through the safety house like they’re real firefighters,” Collins said with a smile. “We want them to have fun while learning how to stay safe.”
For Collins and his team, the Expo was about more than just fire safety; it was about building trust between the community and first responders. “We want kids to walk away from this event knowing that firefighters are their friends,” he said. “We don’t want them to be afraid of us. If they ever have an emergency or need help, we want them to come to us.”
Throughout Fire Prevention Month, the department extended its outreach beyond the Expo, visiting schools and daycares across Middletown Township. “We go to preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, even the high school,” Collins said. “With the younger ones, we’ll put on our gear, give them a high five, and show them there’s nothing to be scared of. For the older students, we talk more about preparedness and responsibility.”
Parents were also encouraged to take home valuable lessons from the Expo. “We always tell families to have a safe meeting place, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and practice fire drills at home,” Collins said. “Kids do fire drills at school, but it’s just as important to do them at home.”
The day’s activities offered something for everyone. Families enjoyed live fire demonstrations, food trucks, and special appearances by beloved characters like Marshall from “PAW Patrol” and Super Grover from Sesame Place. Another highlight of the day was the landing of the Temple Med Flight helicopter, which is based at St. Mary’s Hospital and provides critical patient transport across Bucks County.
“They were nice enough to come out and the weather held out perfectly so everyone could see them land,” Collins said. “It’s a great learning experience for both kids and adults to see how emergency response works on different levels.”
Welsh said events like this are vital for the community. “I think this event benefits the community in multiple ways,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for people to learn about fire safety, see what the fire departments do, and actually meet the people who protect them. If someone walks away learning even one thing about fire prevention, that’s a win.”
This was the second year the Fire Prevention Expo was held at the Restaurant Depot location, and organizers said it was a perfect fit. “We used to hold it at the Oxford Valley Mall, but I think we get more traffic here from Lincoln Highway,” Collins said. “Restaurant Depot has been great about letting us use their space, and we get to reach different parts of the township.”
Middletown Township Fire & Emergency Services covers 19 square miles and also provides coverage to the four surrounding boroughs, including Penndel Borough, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, and Langhorne Manor Borough.. The Fire and Emergency Services team strives to engage all residents. “We want to interact with every part of our community,” Collins said. “Events like this let us do that while sharing a really important message.”
.As families left the Expo with stickers, child ID cards from the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office, and plenty of new knowledge, the message was clear: fire safety starts at home. Through teamwork, education, and community engagement, Middletown’s firefighters once again proved their commitment to protecting lives.
