Holtsville Fire Department Brings Out Sparky The Dog to Help Teach

It was the evening of October 3 and crowds of people came out the the Holtsville fire department on Waverly Avenue. The reason so many people came to visit the fire house on this nice fall evening was because it was the night of their annual open house event.

During fire prevention week which occurs in October members of departments visit local schools to teach fire safety and education to children . October also is when most departments hold their annual open houses. This years open house In Holtsville consisted of a few demonstrations of what firefighters may face when they arrive on a scene. The first demonstration was of an auto accident scene which was set up in the parking lot. This demonstration was meant to show how members use the Hurst tools (JAWS of life) to help get a person who is trapped out of the vehicle. Then they moved on to showing how to use a fire extinguisher to put out a stove fire. The last live demo was a simulated bedroom fire in which members of the department used flares to help set a wooden room on fire and show how quick it can spread as well as how they would fight that type of fire before fully extinguishing it .

The night did not end after the demonstrations were over there was still plenty for the families to do. They were able to go through the Suffolk County Fire Prevention Trailer. They were also taken on rides in the tower ladders bucket , as well as touring the Suffolk County MERVE which was on display. The children also got to take pictures with the one and only Sparky the fire dog who made a guest appearance. Overall it was a successful event and a fun time was had by all.