FLORIDA, Mass. — Students from Abbott Memorial School received an up-close lesson in fire safety Thursday during a field trip to the fire station, where they met with local firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and State Police for a live, hands-on demonstration.

 

The Volunteer Fire Department has hosted the program for some years now. Current adult volunteer firefighters noted they attended the program themselves when they were in school, estimating the tradition has been running for over 35 years.

 

"We have been doing this for years … and it has been pretty much the same thing," said Fire Chief Michael Gleason. "One year we didn't burn the structure, and the kids were disappointed, so that has become a staple … but it gives us a good working relationship with all of the kids. They typically only see a firefighter, EMT, or police officer in a bad situation. Here, they get to see us in a good situation."

 

The educational visit was structured in a few sessions, beginning with the younger grades in the morning. This group walked to the station and toured State Police cruisers, Northern Berkshire EMS ambulances, and various fire apparatus, with first responders providing information about their roles.

 

"Like we will have the ambulance. Each kid will go in the ambulance, and then they will have a chat about the ambulance, what it's like to be in an ambulance," Gleason said.  "And the State Police have their cruisers, and they will tell the kids what they do. We pretty much will talk to them about whatever they want to talk about."

 

Then each child was given the chance to use a real fire hose to practice extinguishing a blaze. The target was a specially built wooden house featuring hinged wooden flames in each window that the students had to successfully knock down using the stream of water.

 

In the afternoon, a separate group of older students walked to the station, where the safety education transitioned into a cookout. 

 

"Of course, we talk about stop, drop and roll, the cause of fires, no stuff on the kitchen stove, all that educational stuff," Gleason said. "Then we will have lunch. Then the next group will come." 

 

Firefighters served up hot dogs, hamburgers, and fries, while others walked around in the garage fully geared up, giving students a realistic view of how they look and operate during an emergency response.

 

"We want them to see us in a good light so they aren't afraid of us when they see us walking around with an airpack on because we look and sound like Darth Vader," Gleason said. "Now they know this is just an airpack. If we do come to their house during an emergency, they know not to hide because we are here to help."

 

Students were then brought outside, and the State Police fire marshals introduced their specialized fire dogs. These canines are trained to sniff out accelerants to determine the cause of a fire. The police used an eyedropper to place tiny scent samples throughout the group. Once the dogs successfully picked up the scent, they were rewarded with a well-deserved treat and plenty of pets from the appreciative students.

 

Students were then told about the "Fire Tetrahedron." Students learned that four essential elements —fuel, heat, oxygen, and a chemical chain reaction — are all necessary for a fire to start and continue. Removing any single element will extinguish the fire.

 

During this presentation, firefighters snuck into an improvised shed with a torch and set it on fire. Thick smoke billowed out toward the students. At that moment, the familiar fire truck sirens blared, signaling a mock emergency. The very firefighters who had been serving lunch flew out of their truck, disengaged the hose, and immediately started attacking the fire.

 

Once the fire was under control, first responders provided crucial educational information on how to prevent fires and what to do if one breaks out. 

 

"We really talk about how to escape a burning building, we really push having a meeting place, and we talk about how to call 911," Gleason said. "… But this gives them a good working relationship with us. We are here having fun, not putting their house out."