The Winkler Fire Department held an open house on Wednesday as part of Fire Prevention Week

Fire Chief Richard Paetzold notes the event is a chance for the public to see where their tax dollars are put to work.

"It's an opportunity to meet the firefighters, which we're all basically neighbours in the same community," Paetzold says, adding visitors were also given a crash course in fire safety.

As a reminder, he explains if you hear a smoke detector sound in the middle of the night, get low to the floor, check the door for heat, "if it's hot go out your second way, if not, stay low and go," Paetzold says, adding many children were also taken through the drill as well.

Along with a BBQ, donations were also collected for the Manitoba Firefighters Burn Fund, an organzation dedicated to supporting people recovering and living with severe burns.

Firefighters were willing to get dunked to raise money for the MB Burn Fund

Visitors got a chance to get up close with the firetrucks

Many took their shot to dunk a firefighter for a good cause