MANVILLE: Students get lesson on fire safety

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Last week was Fire Prevention Week and the students and parents in Manville learned about their local fire companies during several events.
   On Oct. 6 all three fire companies visited the schools to teach the children about fire safety.
   The firemen and the fire trucks went to each school in town to show the younger children the trucks and to give a short lesson on fire safety. The trucks were parked out on the streets by the schools or in the parking lots and the children were able to listen to the firemen explain what they use the equipment for and what they do in a fire. A program and film was shown in the lower grades.
   All of the schools participated in a fire drill to get teach them how to get of the school safely during a fire. Students in the upper grades only did the fire drills. Students were given small items from the Fire Department such as a pencil case or a lanyard.
   On Saturday afternoon, the firemen gathered at Fire Company No. 2 on Camplain Road for an open house. Children and their parents were able to come and see all three companies’ trucks and boats and to make their way through the smoke house. The smoke house is a small simulated fire scene that teaches how to get out of your house during an actual fire. Visitors also were able to try and put out a simulated house fire by using the real fire hose.
   There were free pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, hot dogs and drinks all provided for the event. Firemen were on hand to answer questions and Sparky the fire dog came to see the children. Children received a plastic fire helmet and lots of other goodies.
   Fire Marshal Pat Renaldi was on hand to help answer questions.
   ”It is in cooperation with the Fire Bureau and Fire Department where we get them all together. We give them some goodies, let them see the hoses and see the safety house. It is one of those community-oriented events where we can have the Fire Department and the Fire Bureau come together,” Mr. Renaldi said.