Effingham Fire Dept. Open House is Sunday By Herb Meeker News Report Staff Fun and learning go together as demonstrated each year by hundreds of visitors during the Effingham Fire Department Open House. The Open House is a chance for visitors of all ages to learn about fire safety and firefighting techniques while having a good time through a series of activities. This year’s EFD event opens the doors to the Central Fire Station, 505 W. Fayette Ave., from noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6. “Our main goal is fire safety. If you have kids learn something in a fun environment they normally remember the activities,” said Tasha Lange, Effingham Firefighter and public education coordinator for the department. Children on Sunday will have fun going down an inflatable fire truck slide or watching “Freddie the Fire Truck” but they also learn about fire safety tips through vital messages, Lange said. There will also be fire extinguisher demonstrations where children learn how to put out a fire with an extinguisher. This is a lesson that can be exciting for children even though it has all kinds of safety precautions present for protecting participants. “We’ll have extinguishers shooting out water on a propane flame that is controlled all the time,” Lange said. Dialing 911 is not a problem for many children. But what information should they know or have written down for reciting when they reach a 911 emergency telecommunicator? “The 911 telecommunicators bring over the phones and teach the children what information is needed in a real emergency. That is very important,” Lange said. Brownstown Fire Protection District will haul in its fire safety education trailer with the capacity to generate smoke in spaces designed to appear like bedrooms and kitchens. The trailer helps young participants learn how to escape from a burning structure quickly and safely. “This is about learning what to do when you wake up in a house on fire,” Lange said. The fire station tours allow parents and grandparents to learn more about fire operations in the city. In addition, the open house provides facts to people with different interests. “It’s the perfect opportunity to ask questions on what we do,” Lange said. “We have high school students asking us about firefighting as they consider a future career. Homeowners will ask us about smoke detectors or fire safety in their homes.” The firefighters also have a chance to show what they can do during a victim extrication exercise on an older vehicle. This exercise emphasizes the importance of wearing seat belts and keeping your eyes and concentration on the road. Effingham Police K-9 officer Danny Lake and Kilo will also provide a presentation at the open house. Kilo is getting ready to retire after several years of active service with the department. The public can enjoy refreshments and cookies while the supplies last. One additional fun element about the EFD Open House is no limits on photographs by visitors. “You can shoot anything you want. I’d say about 70 percent of our visitors during the Open House are kids,” Lange said. That adds up to hundreds of smiles each fall.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 20:07:36 +0000
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