Alpha Fire Co. invited its community members to spend their afternoon yesterday crawling through a smoke-filled room and learning how to make a car run on french-fry oil.

The event--held to educate local children about fire safety--celebrated Alpha Fire Co.'s 10th annual open house and the end of National Fire Prevention Week.

"In the past 30 months there have been 100 incidents involving cooking concerns," James Beecher, an Alpha firefighter, said. He added three of 10 reported home fires start in the kitchen, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.

The open house, with the theme "Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat," drew about 75 participants. They were able to look at the company's equipment and watch sprinkler and fire safety demonstrations in a smoke-simulated room.

"The smoke trailer simulates a fire in the home with artificial smoke from a fog machine," David J. Felice, chief fire inspector and Alpha Fire Co. captain, said. "It teaches the kids to crawl low. We have a heated door so they learn to feel for the heat, too."

Interactive lessons were also held in the smoke trailer.

"We set things up like they would be in a kitchen [but placed them dangerously] and ask the kids what is wrong with the picture," Felice said.

A paper-filled wastebasket was set on fire to allow for a sprinkler demonstration on controlling and extinguishing a fire in the same trailer as the smoke simulation.

"The trailer is a great teaching tool," Felice said. "We've had it for 4 years, and it's been as far as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C."

Firefighters offered aerial tours from the fire engine lift that carried parents and children 25 feet into the air, giving a panoramic view of the area from the Alpha Fire Company's location on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Atherton Street.

An electric car and a fuel-powered car, which were acquired by state education grants, were displayed.

The electric car can be run indoors because it doesn't have fumes, Dave Hamilton, instructor of public safety at State College Area School District, explained. The other car that is used outdoors runs on recycled french-fry oil from the high school, he added.

After seeing the advertisement for the open house, Cindy and Scott Fritz and their two children decided to attend.

"It's important to support the community," she said. "Especially because they are all volunteers."

Alpha Fire Co. is made up of 100 firefighters and almost half of them are students, Beecher said. Many of the non-student volunteers work with the university, he added.

Student firefighter John Stephansky (senior-mechanical engineering) has been a member of the fire service since he was 15 years old.

"I decided to join the company and stick with it," Stephansky said.

Stan Clouser, Alpha Fire Co. chief, said the event was a success.

"The open house is a good thing," Clouser said. "It let's the public know we're there for them. It's their tax money, and it's a chance for them to see it at work."