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 As smoke fills the school’s hallways, the alarm sounds and fire doors slam shut. Within seconds, classroom doors open. Children and teachers file out on their hands and knees, quickly making their way to the designated exit.
No, it wasn’t a real fire, and it wasn’t real smoke. It was Liberty Fire Company’s annual Fire Prevention Day at Spring City Elementary School. “I think it went awesome,” Liberty’s fire prevention coordinator, Joe Lorman, said after the exercise. “A lot of obstacles were presented to them. They adapted; they handled it well.”
In addition to the theater fog to simulate smoke, the fire drill also included a locked exit door. The children learned to communicate through the smoke and go to an alternate exit.
Another special aspect of the annual drill is the “capture” of one child by a firefighter. The goal is to address accountability, with the teacher reporting the missing student at the front of the building. “We really hammer it every year,” Lorman explained. “They’ve gotten really good.” He added that it was through these annual drills that the fire company and the school realized they needed to work on the reporting aspect of the emergency exercise.
“Overall, it was a very successful fire drill,” Lorman reflected.
Talking with the children after they assembled on the school playground, Lorman assured them, “You guys did great.” He stressed the importance of communication, especially in a situation like the locked door. And he acknowledged that it’s OK to be frightened. “I’m scared in a fire,” he remarked. “It can be a real scary situation.”
Principal Will Cromley noted it took about two to three minutes to get everyone out of the building. He added that the total population of the building is about 200 people, with just over 150 children.
Lorman and about 17 firefighters from Liberty spent the entire day with the children, arriving at the school to set up before the youngsters showed up for class and remaining through the afternoon dismissal.
“Their educational program for Fire Prevention Week is outstanding,” Cromley added. “It’s an all-day experience for our kids. It’s a very comprehensive program.”
Shortly after returning to class from the fire drill, the children reported to the gym for an assembly. As Lorman introduced the fire crew, who entered the gym by climbing down a ladder, the children applauded and cheered as they would for sports heroes or entertainment superstars.
Lorman reviewed the fire drill, as well as home fire safety, including smoke detectors, using 911, and exit plans. Assistant Chief Jason Shear, with the help of two firefighters and two student volunteers, instructed the students in stop-drop-and-roll, the steps to be taken if their clothes catch fire. “That can save your life,” he told the youngsters.
Two firefighters donned their 80 pounds of protective clothing and gear, and Lorman explained to the children how these items protect the firefighters from harmful gases, fire, heat and smoke.
The assembly concluded with the fire crew showing various types of equipment to the children, including cutting tools, prying tools, pushing and pulling tools and a thermal imaging camera.
Helping the children feel more comfortable around the firefighters, the crew served lunch and visited with the children, then played dodge ball and kickball with them at recess.
The afternoon included a lesson in EDITH – Exit Drills in the House – with the fourth graders. The children designed a house and planned a fire drill.
Later, a MedEvac helicopter flew in for the final portion of the Fire Prevention Day. The students visited seven stations around the school grounds, getting a close-up look at the helicopter and several fire trucks, as well as learning more fire safety tips. The children were able to practice stop-drop-roll and knock down the painted flames on plywood houses with a small fire hose.
Junior firefighter Andrew Hagmann, a Spring-Ford junior at the Western Center for Technical Studies, said the best part of the day was “seeing all the kids’ reactions and how excited they are that we’re here.” A member of the fire crew only since January, Hagmann said the day “teaches me a lot. I learned a lot so I can … help other people.”
Another junior firefighter, Jodi Brown, is a senior at CAT Pickering. Participating in her first Fire Prevention Day, she said, “It’s a blast. It’s awesome.” The best part for her was “when the teachers came up to me and told me the little girls in their class were so excited because there’s a girl firefighter here.”
At the end of the day, the fire crew moved the trucks to the front of the school for one final display. And hopefully, besides the memories, the children took home the lesson that this isn’t just for Fire Prevention Week. As Lorman said, “You always have to be thinking fire safety.”
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