By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Fire Prevention/Fire Safety Week begins Sunday, and Manville students and parents will learn about their local fire departments at several events.
Wednesday, Oct. 10, the three fire companies will visit all the schools in town. The firefighters will begin their day by having breakfast with the students at Roosevelt School at 7:30, then visit Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, Manville High School and Weston, Roosevelt and Christ the King elementary schools.
The volunteers will show children the firetrucks up close and give a short lesson on safety. The children will listen to fire officials explain the equipment and what they do in a fire.
A program and film will be shown in the lower grades. Here, the students will see the turnout gear and learn the “stop, drop and roll” maneuver to put out a clothing fire.
All of the schools will participate in a drill on how to get of the school safely during a fire. All students will be given items from the Fire Department.
That night from 6 to 9, fireman from all three companies will be available at Firehouse No. 2 on North 13th Avenue for an open house.
Children and their parents can see all three companies’ trucks and boats and make their way through a smoke house, which is a small simulated fire scene that teaches how to get out of a house during an actual fire.
”The kids can learn proper procedures how to get out of those areas if there is ever a fire,” fire Chief Marc Pruiksma said.
Visitors will learn how to put out a fire and be instructed how to use a fire extinguisher.
”We are going to have a live fire display for people to actually put out,” the chief said. “We are going to have a stove with an actual fire on it in a pan that will be controlled. Anybody over the age of 18 is going to be allowed to take an actual extinguisher and put the fire out. They will be taught the proper use of an extinguisher and not to be afraid of it.”
There will free pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs and drinks for the event donated by local businesses.
Firemen and Fire Marshal Pat Renaldi will answer questions about fire safety.
Chief Pruiksma invited everyone to come to the open house.
”We decided to make it on a weeknight so maybe more people will come out,” he said. “Hopefully, a good crowd will come out and learn something and see what our Fire Department is all about.”

