ORANGE — Smokey Bear made a visit to the Orange Fire Department Friday morning to teach first-grade students at Fisher Hill Elementary School about the importance of forest fire safety.
As part of a program dating back to the 1950s, Fire Chief James Young said each year the students walk down from the school to learn about proper reactions to emergency situations — from calling 911 to making contact with a firefighter inside a smokey home.
“We have a great group of people that enjoy teaching the kids,” the chief said. “We realize it is important to engage with them at a young age so they understand we are there to help — they don’t need to be scared of us.”
Orange paramedic and firefighter Meaghan Ahearn took the kids around the fire station to show them fire hoses, fire safety techniques, an ambulance and even a fire truck with a 100-foot ladder. To start off the visit, Ahearn showed the students the rooms inside the station where firefighters sleep, eat and hang out while waiting for emergency calls.
“We eat our meals together as a group, just like family,” she said.
Ahearn also demonstrated how to properly use fire alarm boxes, which are located throughout town, to contact the fire department if a cell phone is not available. The first-graders also learned how to accurately report an emergency by dialing 911, detailing the situation, sharing an address and talking with the dispatcher.
“If you’re scared and do not want to be alone, (dispatch) will stay on the phone with you and ask you questions to stay calm until the police and fire departments show up,” Ahearn told the students.
After, students watched the movie, “A Day in the Forest,” to hear from Smokey Bear about the five steps of fire safety: only you can prevent wildfires, always be careful with fire, never play with matches or lighters, always watch your campfire and make sure your campfire is completely out before you leave the campsite.
In preparation for summertime campfire activities, Phil Gilmore, fire warden for the Erving State Forest, told students the department needs all the help they can get from the community to prevent brush fires.
“I am going to ask you to do me a really big favor: if you see a fire unattended, like you saw in the movie, you need to be a smoke alarm for us out in the woods. If you see a fire that doesn’t have an adult around it, you need to call in the fire,” he said.
Outside, Ahearn showed the kids the equipment firefighters use when fighting a fire, such as a chainsaw and large fan. Firefighter Terry Rooney dressed up in his gear and crawled around in a circle, while students patted him on the helmet or shoulder to demonstrate how to make contact with a firefighter inside a smokey home.
“We put the gear on and breathing apparatus so they know what we look like if we ever have to come in their house and rescue them,” said Young.
After, Young waved down to the students from 100 feet above them on a ladder attached to a fire truck. Students cheered and waved back in wonder. Each of them then lined up for the chance to spray a real fire hose. Students ran up to Rooney, holding the hose, with excitement and curiosity. After, they took a tour through an ambulance.
Before heading back to Fisher Hill, the first-grade students exchanged hugs and high-fives with Smokey Bear in the fire station.
Young said the program each year seems to have a lasting impact on the first-grade students.
“The reaction is always good from the kids, and we’ve had kids use what they’ve learned here to report during emergencies. All the lessons that they are taught in school — and reinforced through their interactions with the fire department — have really paid off,” he said.