Hands-on fire safety demonstration excites Highlands students

Highlands first grader Isabella Young didn’t seem fazed that the Eureka Fire-Rescue engine she was admiring at school this week cost more than $1 million.

She only wanted to know what all the buttons were for.

“Where do the firetrucks come from?” she asked. “How do you put out the fire?”

Eureka volunteers, along with Highland Hose and Summit Hose, gave students at Highlands Elementary School a hands-on safety lesson to mark Fire Prevention Week.

Founded in 1925, the program aims to distribute tips that could keep someone safe in case of a fire.

This year’s theme is “Cooking safety starts with you.” Kitchen fires are the top cause of home fires and injuries across the country, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.

“At this age, it’s good to give them general fire safety tips like the importance of smoke detectors,” said Bob Stoebener, president at Highland Hose.

“We definitely want to tell them not to touch the stove.”

Stoebener told students it’s important to take good care of themselves in case they want to grow up to be firefighters.

“It’s a physically demanding job, and you have to stay in good shape,” he said.

First graders in teacher Andrea Thompson’s class were full of questions for Eureka Hose firefighter Jake Gibson, who did his best to answer a flurry of questions that included “Is that jacket heavy?” and “What are all the tools for?”

Summit Hose Chief Josh Fox sent the students away with a bit of potentially life-saving homework.

“When you go home, make an evacuation plan in case your smoke alarm goes off,” Fox said.

“We want you to get low and stay low; get out and stay out.

“It’s important for you to have a safe meeting place outside so we know that everyone is out.”

Second grader August Lovelace said he learned some tips on how to stay safe, but his favorite part of the day was getting to climb through the 100-foot ladder truck that Highland Hose brought.

“It was really awesome,” he said.