‘Fire Prevention Month’ activities keep Raymond firefighters busy

By John Facella
Special to The Windham Eagle

Members of the Raymond Fire & Rescue Department have been kept busy with fire prevention activities throughout the month of October.

Throughout October, Raymond Fire & Rescue Department
was busy promoting Fire Prevention Month. Firefighters 
also visited Raymond Elementary School to congratulate
poster contest winner Kirra Irish, who received a ride to
school for her and her father in a fire truck. From left are
Raymond firefighter Ryan Long, Eric Irish, Kirra Irish,
Raymond Elementary School Principal Beth Peavey, and
Raymond Lt. Paramedic Carol Dennison.
SUBMITTED PHOTO     

At Raymond Elementary School, 251 students were visited by a Raymond fire truck. RES students received training, depending on their grade about stop-drop-and roll, a fire safety technique to extinguish flames on their clothing. Students were also able to see what a firefighter looks like in full response and turnout clothing and gear, learned about kitchen fire safety, and received some tips for how to escape your bedroom at night in the event of a fire.

As in recent years, a fire safety poster coloring event was held, and RES teachers judged the students’ submissions.

The top winner this year in the fire safety poster contest was fourth grader Kirra Irish, who won a ride to school in a Raymond fire truck with her dad, Eric Irish.

Other student poster contest winners were first grader Phyllis Horeth, who won a fire extinguisher and kindergarten student Henry DiSilvestro, who won a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm. Second grader Maple Hall, third grader Weston Quinn, and Pre-K student Tanner Chase, all won Raymond Fire & Rescue Department frisbees for their entries.

During the month, Raymond Fire & Rescue Department members also visited the Raymond Village Library, and four nursery schools, seeing a total of another 100 children. At each of these visits the children got a tour of a Raymond fire truck, were able to see a Raymond firefighter dressed up in turnout gear and were read a story by a Fire Department member about Sam the Firehouse cat, who apparently could slide down a fire pole.

Despite some rain, Raymond Fire & Rescue Department’s Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 22 was well attended by the community. Everyone enjoyed a free meal of hot dogs while reviewing demonstrations about CPR, squirting water for the children, a touch a truck, and fire extinguisher demonstrations. Of special interest this year was the symbolic “push in” of Raymond Fire & Rescue Department’s new rescue pumper, which is about to go into service.

The American Red Cross brought their disaster van to the Raymond Fire & Rescue Department’s Open House and explained their home fire alarm safety program.

On display at the Open House was a table devoted to lithium-ion battery safety, which was a focused theme for this year from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Also shown during the event was a mock 911 telephone experience from the Cumberland County 911 Center, and explanations about home fire escape ladders, fire extinguishers, and tips for wildfire prevention.

Fire officials say that it’s important for local industries to have employees trained in the use of fire extinguishers and Raymond Fire & Rescue Department successfully completed extinguisher training for about 70 employees of Sabre Yachts.

October is recognized nationally as Fire Prevention Month and is a crucial time to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention. This observance serves as a reminder for individuals and communities to take proactive steps in reducing the risk of fire-related incidents.

Fire can often spread quickly and result in devastating damage to homes, businesses and lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments respond to over 350,000 home structure fires each year. These fires result in thousands of injuries and fatalities, making fire prevention a critical public safety issue and fire prevention education utterly essential.

In Raymond, the goal of participating in Fire Prevention Month activities every year is to raise fire safety awareness and help protect homes and families in the town. <