Thursday, October 1, 2026
Pre school students at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center had a lesson in fire safety led by Michael Blackford.
Blackford is an Oceanside resident, father of two pre-school children, a special education teacher in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, and an ex-fire chief from the Rockville Centre Fire Department. Firefighter Michael Hughes of the Rockville Centre Reliance Hose Co. 3, and RVC Junior Firefighters’ Captain, 16-year-old John Cook, joined him.
He said the presentation talks about the sirens from a firehouse and fire truck. The noise could scare the children, he said, “But we explain that the sirens are used to get cars out of the way so we can get to and help people quicker.”
Tots get to try on turnout gear and helmets. The firefighters teach them ‘stop-drop-and-roll.’
Blackford brings a fire alarm from his own house, and talks about changing the batteries. “We teach them they should have a meeting place outside of the house, and the basics, including calling 9-1-1.” Plus they learn songs about calling 9-1-1. By the time they are in the second, third and fourth grades it is ingrained in them, he said.
Blackford said they instruct the children to stay away from grills in the summer. “We tell them any grill is a hot grill,” he said. “And if you make a fire outside, be sure it is out before you leave.”
Finally, they are told if they see anything to notify an adult and head for the meeting place.
The tots go home with plastic fire hats and a certificate of fire safety.
