Again this year, Sugarloaf Fire Rescue joined with personnel from Big Coppett in participating in the activities of National Fire Prevention Week. Presentations were made at both the Banana Cabana daycare center on Cudjoe Key and Sugarloaf Elementary School on Sugarloaf Key. Presentations such as these are designed to peak children's interest in fire safety and teach some of the basic life-safety skills that all should know. Especially with the younger age children, efforts are made to help the children understand that while fire personnel wearing full bunker gear and SCBA masks and equipment may look alien and scary, they are nevertheless their friends.

At the Banana Cabana daycare center on Cudjoe, the youngsters were introduced to some of Sugarloaf Fire Rescue's personnel. From left to right are: FF Jim diTomaso, Explorer Alex Boveda, Explorer Chelsea Grider, Explorer Kate Bryant, Big Coppett Fire Chief Dan Cassel, and FF Chris Boveda.

One of the most popular features of the presentations at Sugarloaf School was the "knock down the flames house" in which the kids get to use a fire hose (the booster line from SLVFD Engine-10) to "knock down" the flames in a "burning" house. Pictured here (left to right) are Explorer Alex Boveda (demonstrating the technique) with FF Jim diTomaso and Explorer Lieutenant Ted Kendall.

Another favorite this year were the tours of Sugarloaf's Squad-10, the truck that carries most of our extrication equipment used in motor vehicles collisions. Here (left to right), Explorer Kate Bryant, FF Chris Boveda, Explorer Lieutenant Ted Kendall, and Explorer Chelsea Grider explain some of the equipment carried and how it is used to help people injured in accidents.

Each year, Fire Prevention week is the week in which October 9th falls. This date was chosen for historical reasons. The history of National Fire Prevention Week has it roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 9, 1871. This tragic conflagration killed more than 300 people, left 100,000 men, women and children homeless and destroyed more than 17,000 structures. A visit to the NFPA's website will provide much more information about Fire Prevention Week.


 

Photo credit: Dep. Chief Bob Adair, SLVFD

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