Groton Fire Department uses Fire Prevention Week to educate youth

Fire Prevention Week (FPW) is nationally observed in both the United States and Canada from the Sunday to Saturday in which October 9 falls. Thus, the official week for 2024 was October 6 through 12, but the Groton Fire Department (GFD) stretched it out this year to ensure they reached all Groton Elementary School (GES) students in grades UPK3, UPK4, and Kindergarten.

“The Groton Fire Department actively participates in Fire Prevention Week every year,” Chief Eric DeForrest said. “This year, we’ll be doing it on two Fridays – October 11 and October 18. The Kindergarteners are coming to our new fire station for a tour and our fire prevention demonstration and the UPK programs will be done at the school.”

Historically, FPW commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, which took place October 8 through 10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles of the city, including more than 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 residents homeless.

Initially, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (FMANA), the oldest membership section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), sponsored the first National Fire Prevention Day, deciding to observe the anniversary as a way to keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. 

In the United States, the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation was issued by President Woodrow Wilson in 1920, and the first proclamation of Fire Prevention Week was made in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge. Since then, the NFPA continues to be the international sponsor of FPW.

Every year since 1925, the NFPA has declared a theme for FPW. For 2024, the theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them WORK for you!” DeForrest said the theme will be talked about during the GFD’s program for the young students this year.

“Our typical demonstration for Fire Prevention Week is bringing our trucks, having firefighters donning gear from our street clothes to our full turnout gear, including our SCBA [self-contained breathing apparatus] to show kids we are just normal people behind all the gear and not to be scared of us,” DeForrest said. “We talk about our tools and what we use them for, all while educating the kids on the importance of smoke alarms, having a meeting spot at their home in the event of an emergency, and how to call 911.” 

DeForrest emphasized that the students will receive their “usual goodies” from the GFD, including fire prevention stickers and a fire helmet. He also spoke about the impact from these three grades of students seeing and hearing the GFD’s program three years in a row, in that “it creates the cadence needed for our youth to retain this important information while having some fun.”   

“We have seen over and over again that fire prevention and taking the time to talk to kids does work,” DeForrest said. “We have seen a reduction in calls over the years as fire prevention has become such a big initiative. We believe stressing the importance of the basics in fire prevention and making them a part of everyday life creates good habits. We also go over much of this same information during our Junior Firefighters Kids Camp that we do in July. We cover these topics throughout the year as kids get older to create the muscle memory needed.”

DeForrest also recognized the importance of teamwork – particularly pointing out Mike Neville – a Groton native who has been a member of the department for 16 years, and who has held various positions, including deputy chief, at the GFD. 

“Mike helps coordinate our fire prevention visits every year, working with the school to get everything scheduled,” DeForrest said. “He has played an important role in fire prevention with our youth by being a part of all the demonstrations and educating them on the topics we cover to help ensure their safety.”  

Neville has been doing public education at the school for about 10 years, with the goal of teaching kids fire safety and fire awareness.

“The one thing a lot of people who teach forget is that these are young minds ranging from three years old to five and six years old, so you have to get on their level, so they understand,” Neville said.

Neville stressed that the goals they try to hit are knowing about smoke detectors, learning to “stop, drop, and roll,” staying low when there is a fire, having a meeting spot/safe place to go, knowing that “firefighters are your friends,” and how firefighters look and sound in their fire gear.

“There is another key point when teaching kids,” Neville said. “You try to stay away from telling the kids what not to do, and only try to say what to do! That way there’s no confusion. Last, but not least, we try to make this as fun as possible, make the kids laugh and make sure they are not scared when they leave. I enjoy doing this and take a lot of pride in it. It puts a smile on my face when the kids from three years ago remember us, when they see us from year to year and remember us by name.”

“The Groton Fire Department is committed to fire safety and educating our youth,” DeForrest said. “The importance of pushing out fire prevention information to our community and educating them at the UPK and Kindergarten level builds the foundation of knowledge, understanding, and good habits they need to live safe and educated lives. Building from the ground up helps ensure our youth are making good decisions in regard to fire safety and prevention.”  

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at (607) 227-4922. 

In brief:

Pork dinner in McLean

The McLean Community Church, 50 Church St., is holding a pork chop dinner from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. The meal includes a 14 oz. grilled porterhouse pork chop, baked potato, peas and carrots, applesauce, pineapple upside down cake, and  beverage. Cost is $15. Eat in or take out.

Trick or Treat for UNICEF

Brittany Station, 152 Main St., is offering 100 Trick or Treat for UNICEF  boxes for anyone who is interested in having their children participate. The boxes may be picked up at the store. UNICEF is an organization that is on the ground in 190 countries and territories, providing children with the lifesaving supplies and assistance they desperately need. For further details, visit https://www.unicefusa.org/trick-or-treat. Families participating should remember some businesses and homes may not know what this is about and may not contribute.

Perry Ground, Turtle Clan at GPL

Storyteller Perry Ground returns to the Groton Public Library with his stories “Haudenosaunee Influence On American Democracy” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23. Learn how the founding documents and principles of the United States government were influenced by ideas found among the Haudenosaunee. Learn about the Peacemaker, the story of how the Five Nations joined together, and how the Great Law of Peace guides their traditional form of government.

For more information, email director@grotonpubliclibrary.org or call 607-898-5055.