Kids Douse Fire on YMCA Lawn

Home safety entails more than the mere “stop, drop and roll” as camp goers of the Main Line learned on Wednesday. With the assistance of local volunteers, the kids pumped fire hoses and extinguished flames on the sodden grass of the Upper Main Line YMCA fields.

“They leave and say ‘Mom, we need to check the battery on the smoke detector’ and ‘We need an escape plan,'” noted Malvern Battalion chief Jerry Vaughn. “If you educate the kids, they educate the parents.”

Local firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other emergency service officials gathered to educate kids on the importance of safety at the eleventh annual Emergency Service Day at the UMLY. The camp attendees, ranging from 3 to 14 years old, traveled through six interactive stations, learning new skills and lessons about the volunteers who work to keep their neighborhoods safe.

“He looks like the guy from Monster’s Inc! He looks like Mike Wazowski!” exclaimed some of the young ones as a member of the Chester County Communications Unit suited up in a full-body, neon suit that protects one from hazardous chemical environments. They also enjoyed playing dress up in the suits.

Other stations entailed extinguishing ignited bales of hay, shooting a full-power fire hose, exploring the interior of a paramedic vehicle and checking out the inside of a flashy Dodge police car.

Participating agencies included the Berwyn Fire Co., Paoli Fire Co., Radnor Fire Co., Malvern Fire Co., East Whiteland Volunteer Fire Association, Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Co., King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Co., JEFFSTAT Flight Services, Chester County Haz-Mat Team, Chester County Communications Unit, Easttown Township Police Department and Tredyffrin Township Police Department.

Due to inclement weather, the helicopter wasn't able to land as planned.