Experiencing the fun of firefighting

Children toured the fire trucks and learned fire safety tips as the Woodmere Fire Department marked Fire Prevention Month last Sunday.

“October is Fire Prevention month and we are trying to educate the public on fire safety, as well as what we do as firefighters and EMTs (emergency medical technicians,” said Chief Lenny Cherson, adding a helpful tip for adults. “You should check the batteries in your smoke alarms at least twice a year, when you change the clock.”

The five-hour event included tours of the department’s fire trucks and ambulances, live demonstrations, and fire engine rides. “My favorite part was going on the fire truck because it was really cool,” said Moshe Aryeh, 6, of Woodmere. Children were taught what to do in the event of a house fire in the interactive smokehouse trailer, and were also able to use fire extinguishers to snuff out stove fires.

There was also an auto extrication, a rubbish fire being extinguished and a display of how a saw cuts through metal. Joseph Whittaker, an investigator from the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office, along with his K9 companion, Umi, conducted a demonstration of the dog’s ability to detect accelerants, as children watched in amazement.

Youngsters were also able to try on firefighting gear, and learned about the role of firefighters and EMTs. “The purpose of Fire Prevention Day is to make the community aware of what we do and how we help them,” said 1st Assistant Chief Benjamin Horowitz. “We let their kids come down and experience all of the fun we have as firefighters.”