Central Mat-Su firefighters will hand out free reflective treat bags Saturday

Central Mat-Su Fire Department will hand out free reflective treat bags Saturday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 7 pm at Halloween safety open houses at five fire stations.

The stations are Station 51, 1911 S. Terrace Court in Palmer, and four in Wasilla: Station 61, 101 W. Swanson Ave.; Station 62, 4568 S. Knik Goose Bay Road; Station 63, 11021 W. Horizon Drive; and Station 65, 680 N. Seward Meridian Parkway.

"Carry your reflective treat bag and flashlight so drivers can see you," the department's flyer says. It also tells families to choose bright, reflective and flame-resistant costumes that fit well, stay with a responsible adult, use sidewalks and crosswalks and wait for an adult to check treats before eating them.

At home, the flyer urges people to keep decorations away from open flames, heaters and light bulbs, use battery-powered lights in pumpkins, keep escape routes clear and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Girdwood Fire and Rescue is also urging residents to use battery-operated candles for Halloween. The National Fire Protection Association says candles started about one-third of U.S. home decoration fires from 2020 to 2024, and nearly half happened because decorations were too close to a heat source.

The Ester Volunteer Fire Department holds its free Halloween festival Saturday from 4 to 6 pm. The Kodiak Fire Department runs a haunted house at the Old Kodiak Firehouse Friday from 4 to 8 pm and Saturday from 4 to 7 pm, with nonperishable food for the local food bank as admission.