The Hopkins Fire Department was recently selected to participate in Sound Off, a new national program with the Home Fire Safety Patrol on fire safety education for children and their families. The department is one of three fire departments in Minnesota and one of 40 communities in 11 states to launch the program in partnership with local elementary schools. According to the National Fire Protection Association, two of every three fire deaths in America occur in homes where smoke alarms are either missing or not working. Sound Off delivers classroom lessons and activities to help children in the second and third grades and their families learn the importance of home smoke alarms, detecting fire hazards in the home and emergency escape planning.