Fire Prevention

Fire-Rescue kicked off it’s month long Fire Prevention Activities Monday 3-October at Black Street Early Development Center. The program runs throughout the year with presentations and demonstrations, but a concentrated effort to reach the younger school aged children coincides with National Fire Prevention Week during October. With the large number of students and schools involved, Fire-Rescue’s program is stretched out over the entire month to reach all public and private elementary schools in the unincorporated areas, as well as the pre-schools and day care centers. County Fire Marshal / Captain Richard Sheffield coordinates the activities which starts with pre-K. A different presentation is presented to each age group, with more information added each year to reinforce the fire safety message. The children learn how to call 9-1-1, give accurate information to dispatchers and how to safety exit their homes. They learn and practice Stop, Drop and Roll, seat belt use, general home safety and how smoke alarms operate. Second Graders enjoy a skit developed by Sheffield and presented by Firefighters.

In the skit, Sheffield plays a child and performs acts that are not fire safe. The children have to yell out “STOP”, every time they discover something that is wrong. Following the skit, Sheffield, Fire Marshal Michael Banks and Deputy Chief David Greene review the safety message with the students. Second Grade students also participate in a Countywide coloring contest. Students are given a ten question Fire Safety Test and then color the picture on the opposite side. Those who answer all of the questions correctly are then judged on the picture. The winner is awarded a new bicycle and helmet in November. Two runners up receive a gift card. Third grade students tour the Fire Safety House and receive a complete review of all of the information they have received over the past several years. The Fire Safety House is a small replica of a house containing three props; a living room with fire place, a kitchen and a bedroom. The students are taught about fire place safety, the correct use of the 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System, Kitchen Safety and the proper way to exit a building during a fire. Breathable smoke is used to simulate a fire and the children get to exit the second floor using a rescue ladder.

This year a new addition joined the team to help educate the students. Patches, a robot Dalmatian who drives his own miniature fire truck, interacts with the students asking questions and helping firefighters review the topics contained in the program. x

Bells Elementary Photo provided by Tania Gooding