HFD Visits Magnet School For Fire Prevention Month

HARTFORD, CT — Fighting fires, saving lives and educating children are three major duties of professional firefighters.

On Wednesday, Hartford's bravest got to put on their proverbial professor caps and teach city schoolchildren a thing or two about fire safety and, perhaps, save their lives in the future.

Hartford Fire Department firefighters from Engine Co. 15, along with the department's special services unit, spent time with pupils and teachers at the Breakthrough Magnet School.

The visit was part of National Fire Prevention Month, which is October.

The theme of the program was "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape."

In addition to interactions with firefighters and seeing firefighting demonstrations, children were able to visit the department's portable "safety house," which safely simulates a smoky room and teaches children how to evacuate.

The program "works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires," the HFD wrote via social media.

"Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning."

For more information on how to prepare a fire escape plan or to schedule the Hartford Fire Safety House, call the Special Services Unit at 860-757-4520.

For the West Hartford Fire Department's Facebook page, click on this link.