Children visit Westminster firehouse to learn about public safety services

By JEFF EPSTEIN
[email protected]
WESTMINSTER , Vt. — The Westminster Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department held its annual “Fire Safety Day” at its Grout Avenue station Friday. About 250 children from local elementary schools and groups attended, a department associate estimated, coming in groups throughout the day. The station holds the open house each year to introduce children to public safety services, including police, fire and emergency medical services. In addition to the fire department, the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, Golden Cross Ambulance, and Smokey the Bear were on hand to provide lessons and fun for the kids. 

Although not present this year, the Vermont State Police and the National Guard have participated in previous years, according to Fire Chief Cole Streeter. About a dozen firefighters were on hand, helping the kids try on helmets and turnout coats, and showing them the inside of the fire engines. They appeared to be having as much fun as the kids. “The guys like it, they like doing it,” said Streeter. “The kids love it, and the teachers and parents enjoy it.” 

Younger children took their tours early in the day, and around lunchtime, a group of more than 30 fourth- and sixth-graders turned up. Some of them got a ride in the fire department’s aerial bucket, while others took a turn trying to hit a target with water from a 1-1/2” wide fire hose. 

Inside the garage, Cpl. Jonathan Griffus of the Windham County Sheriff’s Office demonstrated police equipment such as handcuffs, road flares, fingerprint kits, and handcuffs, explaining how police use them and how they do their work. Students enthusiastically volunteered to be handcuffed, and listened as Griffus told them how officers watch a vehicle to stay safe during a traffic stop. His mission, Griffus explained to a reporter during a break in the activity, was to change children’s impression of police as not friendly. He wants children to understand that law enforcement officers are a resource they can go to if they need help, he said. 

Over at the Golden Cross Ambulance, children learned how patients on a specialized gurney can be gently moved into the ambulance and secured inside. The event program also includes safety videos, and sometimes training games in which children learn how to escape smoke and fire, Streeter said. 

Westminster is a farming community of 3,178 persons on more than 46 acres, according to its municipal website, so nearly all children — even those who are home-schooled — go to Fire Safety Day at least once, and most experience it several times. Even a few firefighters in the department got their first look at fire engines through this event, which has been running for 18 years, said Streeter.