Kids learn fire safety at Plains Fire Department

If you squint hard and maybe stick your tongue out of the side of your mouth it makes it easier to hold on to the high pressure fire hose and direct its powerful spray of water toward the simulated flames of the target.

That seemed to be the consensus among the large group of K-4 grade schoolers during a fire safety demonstration and conversation last week with the Plains Fire Department and a group of wide-eyed young students.

And much to the delight of their teachers, the students were soaking it all, and no one was soaking wet afterward.

“These kids really do learn and remember what these firefighters show and tell them,” said Plains second grade teacher Cindy Gumm. “The students who were here last year remember what they learned. It is important to keep reminding all of us of those things”.

Indeed, from the first student indoor participation drill, (stop, drop and roll) to the practice outdoors with a real fire hose, the summer class students were eager to hear what the firefighters had to say.

One of those particularly adept at the stop, drop and roll concept was fourth grader Cooper Strowbridge, 9, who quickly assumed the drop position and began rolling in a drill designed to show students what to do if their clothing catches fire.

Strowbridge knew and remembered that an important part of the procedure is to shield your face with with your hands as best as you can while you roll to put out any flaming clothes.

“My dad is a fireman,” said Cooper, proudly. “We know what to do”.

Plains Fire Chief Anthony Young and a crew of four other firefighters then led the students outside where an impressive red fire truck was waiting.

After stifling the “wow” and “cool” comments from the class, Young showed them the special gear firefighters use when battling the wide variety of fires they face.

At the end of the show and tell session, Young demonstrated the traditional two-minutes pace fire fighters are expected to be able master to don the many layers of protective outer clothing and other fire fighting essentials like oxygen masks, heavy gloves and boots and more.

And if you looked closely during the outdoors activities, you could see even more smiling faces than before, including grins from the firefighters themselves.

“I love doing these demonstrations”, Young said. “These kids really do seem to soak it all in and remember what we are showing them. And that’s the point”.

As Young quickly donned his gear while the students kept track of time to see if Young could put on all that equipment in two minutes or less, Gumm noted another benefit as the Chief beat the two minute deadline.

“Now you guys can’t complain about getting ready for school on time,” Gumm joked. “You can see why it is important you get dressed and ready to go in the morning”.

Clearly, the most popular event of the morning was the “three-man” fire drill with an actual fire hose.

Teams of three students, with assistance from one of the firefighters, took turns holding the heavy hose, opening its nozzle and feeling the powerful stream of water as it knocked over a wooden, flame shaped board set up at least 20 feet away.

One by one each student had a chance to “extinguish” the wooden flame, with smiles and squeals of delight rising up from the playground near the school’s new building.

“That was fun for us too,” said second-year firefighter Pete Ocker. “These kids really seem to like seeing what we do and hearing what they can do.”