CRANBERRY TWP — Whether it be a young student or people who work in an office building, knowing how to prevent fires from happening is the first goal of any fire department.

For the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company, that includes hands-on demonstrations and conversations with all residents — programs the department can now call award-winning.

This week the department was honored for its fire-prevention education program, earning a first-place award from the Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association. The award recognizes the department’s programs, which work to prevent or reduce the likelihood of fires that could cause death, injury or property damage.

“The best fires are the ones that never start,” said Chris DeCree, safety education program coordinator. “Of course, we admire the heroics of firefighters who put their own safety at risk to help others escape a fire, but we prefer to keep those fires from happening at all.”

The department uses its fire safety trailer and house to drive home that point. The trailer has examples of household dangers that can cause fires, and walks small groups through the scenarios they could find themselves in. The three-story pop-up house simulates even more of those potential problems on a larger scale.

Other elements of the fire-prevention program include visits to neighborhood events, fire station tours, fire escape planning, fire extinguisher training, home inspections and corporate fire training. The department also works to teach children not to be frightened by firefighters in full gear.

The program also focuses on fire safety for senior citizens, as well as seasonal fire hazards.

According to information from the township, the programs appear to be working, as the number of structure fires in the township have decreased.

In 2017, the department received the association’s second-place award in the category after receiving a third-place award in 2016.