Captain Charlie and Firefighter Jason, Gabe, and Philip welcomed two classes of first graders from Richmond Elementary to Station 9 this morning for a fire safety talk and station and engine tour.

The Richmond Elementary first graders walked to the station from their school alongside teachers, classroom assistants, and parents.

Captain Charles greeted the students at the front door, and began the tour by explaining that Station 9 would be remaining in-service during the tour and that firefighters will have to respond to an emergency if needed.

The students then traveled to the second floor of the station to the firefighter’s living area and treated to a fire safety age appropriate video.  The video explained how to safety exit a home if a smoke alarm sounded, the importance of having a home fire evacuation plan, how to crawl out of a home if smoke is present, reviewed the use of 9-1-1, and what to do with found matches and lighters.

Students were then given a station tour, and to the students’ delight, a demonstration by Firefighter Philip of how firefighters use a fire pole to quickly and safely descend to the ground floor of a fire station in the event of a dispatch.

The tour ended with a show-and-tell of Engine 9 and the equipment stored on the apparatus.

   Portland Fire & Rescue 

   We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

   February 3, 2011 

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