Granby Firefighters Educate Kearns Students

Lost Acres Fire Department firefighters Captain Tim Weber and Steve Issacson visited F.M. Kearns Primary School Friday afternoon, teaching important fire prevention and safety lessons to the school’s young students.

With a simple, memorable and engaging presentation, Weber and Issacson presented a list of easily remembered keys for kids at Kearns. The firefighters also showed the kids what firefighters look like when wearing all their gear. They reminded the students that, although they look and sound different, it’s still a person who cares about their safety underneath the coat, pants, helmet, respirator, oxygen tank and mask, which weigh more than 75 pounds in tandem.

“We’re still firefighter Tim and firefighter Steve underneath these suits,” Weber told the students.

The keys presented to the kids: Crawl on the ground when escaping a fire to avoid smoke and heat; feel a door before opening it when escaping from fire — and don’t open the door if it’s hot; use a window to leave the room if the door is warm, except when on the second floor (and, if in that situation, open the window, wave your arms and make noise to let firefighters know where you are); 911 is the number to call in an emergency; stop, drop and roll if you or your clothes are on fire; and don’t play with matches or lighters.

The firefighters also gave the students two pieces of homework for their Columbus Day weekend: Ask their parents to check the smoke detectors in their homes to make sure they’re working and to establish a family meeting place outside but near the home in case of a fire.

“This tells you when there is a fire in your house,” Weber said, holding up a smoke detector at the beginning of the second presentation he gave Friday. “Or, as someone pointed out in our last session, tells you when dinner is ready.”

Weber has been teaching Granby students about fire safety for a decade. At first, he was volunteered for the program but soon realized he truly enjoyed reaching out to and educating local students. He even takes vacation time from his job in Farmington to lead the sessions.

“I found that I loved it,” Weber said.

He said tailoring the message to the specific school and age groups he is visiting and repeating the message each year makes the lessons effective. Some Granby preschools have Weber visit their schools and all students hear the message by the time they’re in kindergarten at Kearns.

The fire prevention education continues through the students’ time at Granby Memorial Middle School, meaning some students hear the message for 10 years. Weber said that can talk to upwards of 1,300 Granby students in a single year about fire safety.

The Lost Acres Fire Department is hosting an open house at its center station (206 Salmon Brook Street) on Oct. 20 from noon to 2 p.m. Engines and trucks will be on display, firefighters will speak with visitors and a controlled burn of a couch will be performed, along with other attractions.