Fire away: Children practice putting out fires

By Sarah Gooding
Pittsburg Morning Sun – October 10, 2013

Firefighting is serious business, with high-powered hoses and lots of equipment for all types of scenarios.

However, it was more of a game for children who turned out at Meadowbrook Mall Wednesday evening to take turns holding and spraying a firehose.

With the help of firefighters, each child turned the nozzle and released a stream of water toward a sign adorned with flames, with the final goal being to knock over the sign and put out the fire.

Fire prevention week is an annual tradition that takes place in early October – the same time as the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire.

“That’s why we do that this time every year,” said firefighter Bob Gardullo.

Each year firefighters offer an array of activities to teach children, parents and others about fire prevention, but the opportunity to hold and operate a firehose was new.

“This is the first year we’ve been doing this,” Gardullo said. “We’re going to be doing this from 6-8.”

Throughout the time children each stepped up and took turns, grinning as they put out fires.

Aiden Long’s parents said it was a beautiful evening to bring their son out and to give him a new opportunity.

“He liked it,” said his father, Matt Long.

In the course of the activity, children get a feel of what it is like to use the hose.

“They get to see how to work the nozzles,” said battalion chief Jeff Kavanagh.

Fire captain Jim Radell added that the hose has been demonstrated at schools in past years, but that letting the children hold the hose was new.

“This year we allowed them to do it with assistance from the firefighters,” he said.

Radell said the goal of the activities throughout the week is to bring attention to Fire Prevention Week.

“There’s a theme every year,” he said. “This year was kitchen fires.”

Radell said the B shift built many of the props, including a roof that will be used in ventilation demonstrations this evening and a kitchen that was used at area schools to demonstrate the right and wrong ways to put out a grease fire.

Jacquelyn Eighmy brought her son and a friend, and said the fire prevention activities are making an impact, particularly the demonstration of adding water to a grease fire that was done at area schools.

“He was really impressed by the explosion, but, they’re helping to learn about fire safety,” Eighmy said.

Firefighters are looking forward to Saturday when, weather-depending, they will do all the displays again between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

“Saturday it’s going to be everything,” Gardullo said. “It will be like a firefighter festival.”

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