Firefighters make visits to schools, stress use of smoke detectors

As part of Fire Prevention Week, firefighters are visiting many of the Sidney schools to get their message out.

This year in particular, they're stressing the use of smoke detectors in homes and businesses.

"Smoke detectors is our big push; I wish more people had them," said Dana Reece, a volunteer with the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department who also works as a deputy state fire marshal. "It's important to change the batteries when you change your clocks (for Daylight Savings Time) twice a year. We tell the kids to go home and tell their parents that."

Almost three of five reported home fire deaths from 2007-2011 resulted from fires in home with no smoke detectors or no working ones, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported home fire in half.

Reece has spent most of his life working in fire departments, and wouldn't trade the experiences. All told, the Sidney department has 39 members, nine of whom are emergency medical technicians (EMTs). From October 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014, the department responded to 96 calls – 63 inside the Sidney city limits and 33 outside. That translated to 101 man hours, Reece said.

When the firefighters visit the schools, there are obviously different lessons to be taught to the students – depending on their age range.

"With some of the younger kids, we don't want them to ever be afraid of a firefighter," Reece said. "We want them to know that we are there to help them. In the schools, we have a firefighter go in with us in regular clothes. Then the kids get to watch him put on all of his gear, including air tanks.

"That way if they are ever in a fire and can't get out, they'll recognize what that firefighter looks like in his gear and will know that he's not scary and is indeed there to help them."

The firefighters also stress not playing with matches and lighters as well as having fire drills in the home, Reece said.

"We tell the kids that every time there is a fire drill at school, go home and remind your parents that they should have one there as well," he said. "Have a safe meeting place for the entire family. That way we know when we arrive whether we need to search for anyone in the home."

Besides the school visits, families will have a chance to see some of the things that the department does up close and in a fun and relaxed setting.

On Sunday, the fire department will hold an open house from noon-3:30 p.m. at its station at 1115 13th Ave. There will be a free hot dog lunch, music and prizes. The Airlink helicopter is also scheduled to be on site.

The list of events include: vehicle extrication demonstration (12:30 p.m.), water fight (1:30 p.m.), fire extinguisher demonstration (2 p.m.) and a grease fire demonstration (2:45 p.m.)

"It gives us a chance to do demonstrations for the adults so they know what to look out for," Reece added. "For instance, we'll simulate a grease fire on a stove. We'll heat up the grease in a pan and then throw water on it to show how it explodes. Basically, what not to do.

"Then, we'll reignite the grease and hit it with a fire extinguisher to demonstrate the proper way to handle it," he said. "We'll also show how we extricate a person from a car in a vehicle accident. We do have some great equipment and it gives us a chance to show it off."