Guilford Fire Department visits schools with "Smoke Trailer"

In honor of National Fire Prevention week last week, the Guilford Fire Department visited several Guilford public schools with their “Smoke Trailer.” The trailer, borrowed from Branford’s Department, gives students a real feel of what it would feel like if a room were to be filled with smoke, using completely safe and harmless technology of course.

“The kids first learn the top 10 safety tips when it comes to fire prevention and safety in the front part of the trailer,” Said Rob Piascyk, one of the Fire Fighters at the educational program at A.W. Cox Elementary. “Then we fill up the back room with some smoke and they climb out the back window, guided by one of us, and we have them do ‘stop, drop, and role.’ It’s great because it’s one thing to just teach it to the kids, it’s another thing when they actually get to experience it and act it out.”

“This is a great event, and we’re able to do it thanks to fundraisers we do throughout the year,” commented Steve LaPaglia, another Fire Fighter volunteer at the school. “The trailer is new this year, and it, and the program throughout the years, has been well received, and we always get great feedback.”