Centreville Kids Celebrate Fire Prevention Week

This is fire prevention week. Here is what happened at our local fire department from a kid's point of view.

At the Centreville Volunteer Fire Department Open House there were stations for kids. The kids got a sticker log. There were six stickers you had to collect. When you got all of your stickers, you got a bag. The bag has lots of information and goodies for kids.

Al Woolf, captain of the fire station, said, "What I want kids to get the most out of is basically home safety and what to do if there is a fire in their house."

These are the stations you had to go to: There was a table about when to call 911 and how to call 911. You could learn how to "Stop, Drop and Roll." You stop, drop, and roll and cover your face, so you don't get hurt. Dominic, 2, said he liked "learning about different equipment and stop drop and roll."

There were two tables set up with the equipment used for fires and medical situations. There was a setup of smoke detectors and how to get out if it beeps.  The escape route helped you learn how to get out of your house and if there is a fire to know what to do.

The hazard house simulator was a great hit. This setup helps you learn what to do if there is a fire in your house and how to solve it.

There was a tent with smoke. The smoke was not real. It was a fog machine. Eliot showed kids how to "Stay Low and Go" if there was a fire and if there was smoke, how to get out. He also showed you how to use a thermal imager. Then you stayed low and left the tent.   

Lots of younger children liked the train. "I had fun on the train," said Joshua, 4.

There was also a grease fire demonstration. The firefighters lit a fire in a pot. Then they showed you how to make sure a fire is out. After that, they put a pan on fire in the oven. They poured water on the pan. The flames got bigger. They covered it with another pan. Then the fire went out. Lucy, 3, said, "I like the firemen the best."

People looked at the fire trucks. The kids were able to go inside the fire trucks and ambulances. Atria, 4, said, "I went in the fire truck. It was fun." Konstantane, 4, said, "My favorite vehicle was the fire truck."

Jose, 4, said, "I like the whistles the best." These were given out by the Fairfax County Community Emergency Reponse Team (CERT). 

Sue, a volunteer with the Centreville Volunteer Fire Department, said "I wanted to get involved with something in the community and this is a great organization. I have been with the volunteer fire department almost one year."

I even had a chance to give some of the firefighters my Caring Kids Cards that said "Thank you for protecting us."

Everyone had fun. I think children learned a lot from this open house. Thank you to the Centreville Fire Department for putting on a great program for the community.