At its annual dinner on August 14, the Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association presented its First Place Award for fire prevention education to the Township’s Volunteer Fire Company. The award recognized a long series of educational activities which the organization has in place to reduce the likelihood of fires that could cause death, injury, or property damage. Although combating active fires remains a core function of CTVFC, the company’s priority is to eliminate the risk by educating children, adult residents and those working in the Township about dealing with the hazards around them. Among those programs are its Fire Safety House; neighborhood visits during block parties; fire station tours; a pop-up house simulating home fire and safety hazards; fire escape planning; fire extinguisher training; home inspections; corporate fire training; and teaching children not to be afraid of firefighters in full turnout gear. Last year, Cranberry received the association’s second place award in its fire prevention education category; the year before, it received third place.