AUBURN - Genesee Elementary School first-graders were assigned potentially life-saving homework as they studied and applied new skills during a Fire Prevention Week demonstration Friday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Auburn Fire Department Lt. Bill DiFabio shows Terri Holmes' first-grade students a fire hose from one of the department's trucks at Genesee Elementary on Friday afternoon.
Auburn Fire Department Lt. Bill DiFabio shows Terri Holmes' first-grade students a fire hose from one of the department's trucks at Genesee Elementary on Friday afternoon.
As the young students pointed and marveled at two large Auburn Fire Department trucks parked in front of their school, Lt. Bill DiFabio reminded the children that he wanted them to go home and use a fire drill in order to review their fire evacuation plans and to check their smoke detectors' batteries.
Auburn firefighters visited several local elementary school classrooms during the national Fire Prevention Week program, which is used to promote safety awareness techniques to reduce the likelihood of a fire and to prevent fire-related injuries or deaths.
“We are trying to catch the children while they are young to instill in them good fire safety habits,” DiFabio said. “We want to build good habits while they are young.”
While the children sat quietly at their desks coloring in their fire-safety coloring books prior to the firefighters' arrival, the students could barely
contain their excitement when DiFabio began asking them questions about equipment and evacuation procedures.
During his demonstration, DiFabio taught the children when to use 911 and how to recognize the difference between a dangerous fire and good fire. When asked what a good fire was, one student excitedly blurted out without raising his hand, “one that roasts marshmallows.”
Firefighter Jeff Salvage also put on all of his fire gear, including his helmet, respirator and mask in order to show the children what a firefighter may look and sound like while searching for missing people inside a burning building.
While the sound of air rushing through his respirator sounded similar to the evil Darth Vader's breathing in the movie “Star Wars,” Salvage walked around the room giving each child a high-five to assure them he was not scary.
“We want you to remember this sound so if you hear it, you can call out to it,” DiFabio said, as Salvage turned on his respirator. “You will probably hear the firefighters before you see the firefighters.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
Auburn firefighters visited several local elementary school classrooms during the national Fire Prevention Week program, which is used to promote safety awareness techniques to reduce the likelihood of a fire and to prevent fire-related injuries or deaths.
“We are trying to catch the children while they are young to instill in them good fire safety habits,” DiFabio said. “We want to build good habits while they are young.”
While the children sat quietly at their desks coloring in their fire-safety coloring books prior to the firefighters' arrival, the students could barely
contain their excitement when DiFabio began asking them questions about equipment and evacuation procedures.
During his demonstration, DiFabio taught the children when to use 911 and how to recognize the difference between a dangerous fire and good fire. When asked what a good fire was, one student excitedly blurted out without raising his hand, “one that roasts marshmallows.”
Firefighter Jeff Salvage also put on all of his fire gear, including his helmet, respirator and mask in order to show the children what a firefighter may look and sound like while searching for missing people inside a burning building.
While the sound of air rushing through his respirator sounded similar to the evil Darth Vader's breathing in the movie “Star Wars,” Salvage walked around the room giving each child a high-five to assure them he was not scary.
“We want you to remember this sound so if you hear it, you can call out to it,” DiFabio said, as Salvage turned on his respirator. “You will probably hear the firefighters before you see the firefighters.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.