Apple Valley Fire Stations Open Their Doors for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6–8
TLDR
- Apple Valley named Oct. 4–10, 2026 Fire Prevention Week.
- All three fire stations host open houses from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 6, 7 and 8.
- This year's theme is safe charging of lithium-ion batteries.
- A family of five escaped a house fire this week thanks to a working smoke alarm.
Want to spray a fire hose or climb around a fire truck? Apple Valley's fire stations are opening up next month. At the Sept. 24 Apple Valley City Council meeting, Fire Chief Matt Nelson shared the plan for Fire Prevention Week.
The Open House Schedule
Each open house runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 6: Fire Station 1, 15000 Hayes Road
- Wednesday, Oct. 7: Fire Station 2, 13995 Galaxie Avenue
- Thursday, Oct. 8: Fire Station 3, 14195 Essex Avenue
You can meet firefighters, check out the trucks and spray a hose. There are activities for kids too. The city will also be at the first two open houses to collect ideas for its 2050 plan.
This Year's Theme: Safe Charging
The national theme for 2026 is "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower." It's all about lithium-ion batteries.
Those are the batteries in your phone, laptop, power tools, e-bikes, scooters and lots of toys. If they get damaged or charged the wrong way, they can overheat, catch fire or even explode.
Here are the safety tips from the city's proclamation:
- Use the cord and charger that came with the device, or one the maker approves.
- Charge on a hard, flat surface.
- Watch for devices that get very hot or start to swell.
- Unplug when it's fully charged.
- Charge big stuff like e-bikes outside and away from exits.
Don't Toss Batteries in the Trash
A council member asked about getting rid of old batteries. He said the city has had a few dumpster fires in the last month or two that might be battery-related.
The chief said to keep rechargeable batteries out of your regular trash. Look for a little trash can symbol with a line through it. That's your hint.
Instead, take them to The Recycling Zone in Eagan. It's the closest drop-off for Apple Valley. Dakota County's Recycling Zone Plus in Lakeville is on the way too, but it isn't expected to open until spring 2027.
"When we crush those things in the compactor at the back of the trash truck, probably pretty bad for them," he said. The chief agreed it can lead to fires. Eagan has seen this firsthand. The city even put out a warning about batteries and fires.
A Real Reminder From This Week
The chief shared a close call from earlier that week. An Apple Valley house caught fire around 4:30 in the morning. A family of five was asleep.
Their smoke alarm woke them up. They had only a few minutes to get out before most of the house was on fire. Everyone made it out safely.
That smoke alarm "is arguably the only reason they are actually alive today," the chief said.
For another reminder of how fast house fires move, read about this spring's Rosemount house fire rescue.
The Bottom Line
Go test your smoke alarms tonight. Seriously. Then check how you charge your stuff, especially e-bikes and scooters.
And if you've got kids, the open houses are an easy, free night out. Find more things to do on our south metro events calendar.
