Firefighters Visit Students at Stony Point Elementary School

BY BARRY WARNER

A Presidential Proclamation was signed this year by President Barack Obama to designate October 4-10, 2015 as Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week was first established to commemorate The Great Chicago Fire in 1871, which killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced that the theme for Fire Protection Week this year is HEAR THE BEEP WHERE YOU SLEEP: EVERY BEDROOM NEEDS A WORKING SMOKE ALARM.

Assistant Principal of Stony Point Elementary Beth Shusterman told The Rockland County Times, ”Every October, the visit by the firefighters of The Stony Point Fire Department/Wayne Hose #1 creates an awareness of fire safety which includes having a plan of escape, telling their parents to change batteries in their home smoke detectors and most importantly not to be frightened in an emergency situation.”

Stony Point Firefighter Lt. Kurt Mulligan stated, “A purpose of this session was to teach general fire safety techniques to the students and demonstrate what a firefighter looks like when completely outfitted with his gear. Firefighters are community helpers and children should not be afraid of them. During a fire drill, children should get in line quickly without talking and follow the instructions of their teachers in order to go to a safe place outside of the building.”

After the presentation, the children walked out of the auditorium in single file to see the big red Pumper Fire Truck plus the gear used for fighting fires in the numerous compartments. There will be an Open House at The Stony Point Fire Department, 25 North Liberty Drive on Saturday October 10, 2015 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.