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Firemen teach safety with fire at area schools

By ALEX GAMBILL
Traveler Staff Writer
photographer@arkcity.net

The Arkansas City Fire Department gave presentations for Fire Prevention Week yesterday for children at C-4 Elementary, Hillcrest Bible Baptist Academy and Frances Willard Elementary.

The presentations began with Freddie the Fire Truck squirting children with water. Freddie is a remote controlled truck that is equipped with a camera, microphone and speakers, as well as a water canon for hosing down children.

A member of the ACFD operated the truck and its purpose was to connect with the children to illustrate ways in preventing fires. The firefighter that operated the truck also answered the students' questions, which he did through a microphone that transmitted to a speaker that augmented his voice to sound like Freddie's voice.

The children then viewed a video with many facts regarding fire prevention. For instance, the number one place that fires start in a house is the kitchen.

"We've been doing the Freddie show for five years," ACFD Lt. Doug Riggs said. "Hopefully what the show does for the kids is to get them to go home and talk to their parents...as adults we sometimes forget."

Other firefighters involved the presentation were Chet Ranzau, Mike Evinger and Kyle Riedel.

Frances Willard principal Jeff Shearon said personal safety is an area that teachers work on in an ongoing basis. Each month Frances Willard and other schools are required to conduct a fire drill to teach the children how to exit the building.

Shearon also said "The program gives students material to go home and to talk to their parents about fire safety. The idea is that (the information) transfers home and they are able to recall and to help family members be safe."

"I know having heard from parents in the past that they'll say 'yeah we know you've had your presentation because my child came home and said we needed an evacuation plan and we needed to blow out candles'," Shearon said.

Riggs said the department got a grant five years ago to get Freddie and all the equipment. "A lot of the money we got came from our community, as well, with matching funds."

Riggs added "We just hope that everyone checks their smoke detectors...and to just keep safe."

Fire Prevention Week is held each October and commemorates the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred Oct. 8, 1871.

Above: Frances Willard Elementary students react to Freddie the fire truck during a fire prevention program at their school Wednesday.