Lincoln Fire Department kicks off Fire Prevention and Safety Month with a breakfast at the firehouse

 

[October 04, 2017]  LINCOLN - On Monday morning, the Lincoln Fire Department kicked off Fire Prevention and Safety Month with a special breakfast at the Lincoln Fire Station.

The guests of honor were third-graders from West Lincoln-Broadwell School, along with their teacher, Shea Lopian.

The annual event is led by Lincoln Fire Inspector Tim Aper and is a special morning of food, fire safety education and fun. The day begins with breakfast prepared by Claude VanFossan, which includes pancakes, sausages, orange juice or milk.

This year Aper noted before the kids arrived that he wanted to acknowledge VanFossan as a great volunteer who has served breakfast to the children for the past several years. He noted that the department appreciates VanFossan’s willingness to come and cook for the kids, and wanted to give him a big public “Thank you!”

Aper also pointed out the firefighters on duty Monday morning who would be helping with the special activities. Those on hand in addition to Aper were Assistant Fire Chief Ben Roland, Captain Ty Johnson, Captain Jason VanWinkle, Lieutenant Ashely Williams, firefighter James Reed, and on his first full day of duty at the Lincoln Fire Department, recently hired firefighter Shelby Bosie.

The events of the morning included some “class time” after breakfast where kids learned about fire prevention and safety. Typically, students are asked if they know how to get out of their home if a fire should occur; does their family have a safe meeting place; and do they understand the “stop, drop and roll” rules if their clothing should catch fire. Discussions also included fire safety rules, like not playing with lighters and matches, never leaving burning candles unattended, and making sure there are smoke detectors in the home, and that batteries are checked and changed regularly.

Another big lesson the kids learn is what to expect if a firefighter should ever have to come and find them in a burning building. The gear that a firefighter wears is big, bulky, and noisy. For a young child who is already afraid, this can be very intimidating. With the help of Firefighter Bosie, the children learned about the gear the firefighter wears, and why they wear it. They also learned that when the firefighter is wearing an oxygen mask, they not only look strange, but they sound strange. Kids were encouraged not to be freighted by all this, and not to hide, but rather to allow the firefighter to help them get out of the burning building safely.

After classroom time, the kids were also treated to a tour of the fire station. They got to see where the firefighters live in the upstairs portion of the firehouse and then headed outside for some fun time.

Kids got to check out a large fire truck and had their pictures taken in the firefighter cutout. They along with their teacher also had an opportunity to experience the work of the firefighters when they were permitted to shoot the fire hose at the department’s burning house.

The morning at the firehouse ended around 11 a.m., then the kids returned to West Lincoln-Broadwell to finish out their school day.

Each year in October, the Lincoln Fire Department not only hosts the annual breakfast, but also pays visits to all the elementary schools within the city. The department presents a fire safety program in classrooms from pre-kindergarten through third grade.

Aper said they department will also do special programs at day care programs and Head Start programs upon request during the month of October.

The department once again is handing out special coloring books produced for them free of charge by Lincoln Daily News. The coloring books feature many of the lessons that children need to learn about fire prevention and safety, and include a certificate that can be brought to the fire station and signed by Chief Mark Miller, when they have completed the activities and coloring in the book.

The book is made possible by LDN and its many sponsors. LDN provides the design and layout of the book, and the sponsors assist in paying the printing costs. A large quantity of the books are printed each year with enough to supply the students during the classroom visits and have leftovers that can be given out during the year.

On behalf of the Lincoln Fire Department, we encourage parents to look at the books when their children bring them home, and thank the sponsors who make the books possible. The fire department does the fire prevention month on a very small budget, and support from the community is always very important.

[Nila Smith]