Fire Prevention Week educates students about safety in Raymond

Fire Prevention Week always includes October 9, the date when the Great Chicago Fire started in 1871.

Raymond Elementary School Fire Prevention
Week poster winners are joined by John Facella
of the Raymond Fire Rescue Department at
the school. SUBMITTED PHOYO  

Although this observance and educational week was officially started by President Calvin Coolidge back in 1925, for the Raymond Fire Rescue Department it has always been a full month of activities including a library visit with children and an Open House for the community at the Fire Station.

This year the department provided fire safety training for 360 children in area day cares and at Raymond Elementary School.

A poster coloring event was held for the school, and third-grader Nolan Gervais won a ride in a fire truck for his poster. Other winners who received smoke alarms or a fire extinguisher during the week included fourth-grader Bayla Abrams, second-grader Ella Moreau, first-grader Peter Reilly, Kindergarten student Ronan I. Green, and Pre-Kindergarten student Liana Vangelist.

With today’s furnishings and building materials, fires burn hotter and faster. It is important that families evacuate their homes immediately if the smoke alarms go off, because in about two minutes a small fire can become very large.

The Raymond Fire Rescue Department also recommends being careful about where combustibles are stored. In our area we have had a number of fires caused by combustibles that were temporarily stored on top of stoves.

Here are three things for families to consider:

· Make sure everyone knows where the meeting place outside is, and that no one should stop on the way for anything

· Everyone should close their doors at night to prevent smoke and flames entering bedrooms. If the smoke alarm goes off, and you cannot evacuate, keep the door closed, open a window, and throw things outside so the firefighters know where you are.

· Check your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms monthly to be sure they are operating. Thanks to a working alarm, a Raymond resident who was asleep was able to evacuate when a fire started recently. <

For all families with children, we ask that you review the fire safety videos that Raymond Fire and Rescue Dept. has online:

· For K-2 students, there is an under 6-minute video showing a firefighter suiting up, and why he is “not scary”. Go to: https://www.raymondmaine.org/content/suiting

· For 3rd and 4th grades, there is an under 12-minute video which discusses kitchen safety, and how children should escape from their bedrooms at night if there is a fire. Go to: https://www.raymondmaine.org/content/kitchen-safety <