It's easy to get distracted with all of the football and baseball games on TV, that's why fire stations throughout the stateline are taking a "time out" to go over fire safety. This week is fire prevention week. Today Cherry Valley firefighters showed off their toys. Visitors got to see what it's like to ride on their ladder...And even experience a simulated house fire.

"Most people don't expect a fire to come in their home sand most people don't realize that a fire moves very quick and that they don't have a lot of time to get out of their homes when their is a fire so they can some out here and elarn fire safety in their home," said chief Allen Geeser, Cherry Valley fire dept.

Fire officials say the leading cause of fire is cooking, followed by smoking, then heating, electrical equipment and candles.

And in conjunction with fire prevention week...The Rockford fire department is sponsoring a poster contest. The theme is prevent home fires. More than five-hundred posters were entered, with 39 winners. The top prices include a desk top computer 19-inch flat screen TV and digital camera.