West Lafayette Fire Department patrols Breakfast Club

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Breakfast Club.

A time when many Purdue students wake up early put on their costumes and go to Chauncey Village bars before home football games.

For West Lafayette Police and the Fire Department it's a busy morning that Fire Chief Tim Heath said he wants students to enjoy but always keep their safety in mind.

"We encourage responsible drinking," Heath said."We want the bar owners to know that the kids are safe, the community also that the kids are safe when they're out in this environment."

It may be surprising to learn the fire department plays a big role in Breakfast Club safety. In addition to responding to fire emergencies a lot of the time they're going on medical runs.

"We could have someone whose down in the bar with as little as a sprained ankle or as much as someone whose had too much to drink and needs to be taken to a hospital," Heath said about medical calls.

Firefighter Keith Burton said making medical calls in Chauncey Village used to be hard with the crowds but now it takes no time.

"A couple years ago the city of West Lafayette starting putting these barricades out on game day mornings to help separate the crowds of breakfast club from the traffic moving through which has diminished our medical runs to this area. It's just a lot safer and makes for a better game day morning," Burton said.

Chief Heath said in addition to the added protection from barricades and the fire department responding to medical calls a safe Breakfast Club relies on a lot of teamwork.

"It has a lot to do with the police department and their foot patrols and their people out and about making sure everyone's having a safe time and it's really a community public safety support between police and fire," Heath said.

Heath said the fire department is always on their toes during Breakfast club.

"If we're not needed it's a good day and if we are needed we're here and ready to go," Heath said.