Hermitage firefighters share lesson about fire safety, prevention

Oct. 12—HERMITAGE — When speaking to a group of students, Hermitage firefighter Lt. Tom Redfoot used examples the children were familiar with to explain how to prevent fires.

From replacing the lint filter when doing laundry to being careful when cooking food under parental supervision, Redfoot explained that all fires need three things — fuel, heat and oxygen.

"If something's burning on the stove, put a lid on it and move it off the hot burner," Redfoot said. "If you do those two things, you've cut off the oxygen and there's no heat, so the fuel is all alone."

Redfoot's presentation was part of a larger program Thursday morning at Ionta Elementary School, where several members of the Hermitage Fire Department helped teach the students about the importance of fire prevention.

Students had an opportunity to see some of the firefighters' equipment, including a few trucks, up close.

John Flynn, Hermitage's fire chief and fire marshal, shared some other safety tips, including what he said was the most important for the children — if a building is on fire or full of smoke, get outside and stay outside.

"Don't go back inside for your favorite toy or animal, or if your parents need to go back inside, don't follow them in," Flynn said. "We need to account for you when we get there, and we'll work very aggressively to get the fire put out and save what needs saved."

Thursday's visit was preceded by a poster contest, where students in grades four through seven created posters with tips and slogans promoting safety and fire prevention.

Health and Physical Education Teacher Jessica Johnson said she developed the idea for the poster contest while organizing the curriculum for this year.

Johnson had participated in a similar contest while she was a student at Union Area School District, and fellow teacher Amber Haywood was supportive of the idea based on similar activities organized at Sharon schools.

Teacher Michelle Lanshcak, who works with student council, helped get trophies for the contest winners while Haywood got the winners certificates. Principal Eric Trosch was supportive as well, Johnson said.

Johnson coordinated with fellow health and phys ed teacher Richard Ladjevich so that the students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades could work on the posters during health class.

The posters were then submitted to the Hermitage Fire Department on Sept. 29, and the firefighters chose the winners — who were then announced Thursday, Johnson said.

The three winners were Sadie Foltz in fourth grade, Daniel Wadrose in fifth grade, and Sophia Lewis-Bateson in sixth grade. Aside from their trophies and certificates, Flynn said the winners would get a ride in a fire truck and a trip to Dunkin' Donuts.

"They really enjoyed it," Johnson said of the students. "The kids really went in-depth with it, especially the creative kids, and it was cute because they would bounce some ideas off each other."

Each winner was announced after their respective grades' fire safety presentation by Redfoot, and the students clapped and cheered as the winners were declared.

However, seeing the firefighters' trucks and equipment up-close proved popular too, as each grade was divided into groups that alternated between the three trucks.

At each truck, the students learned something different — at one truck, Capt. Casey Clark explained some of the features such as hoses, water pressure and outriggers.

At another station, firefighter Lt. Adam Prather displayed some of the water-rescue equipment, such as rope bags, used by the Hermitage Water Task Force.

Prather also demonstrated the department's turnout gear, including oxygen mask, coat and gloves, while Clark gave an introductory presentation.

Fourth grader Zack Leech, whose father Nick Leech is a firefighter, said he enjoyed the Hermitage Fire Department's visit Thursday, both getting to see the equipment and learning how to be safe.

"You should not play with fire," Zack said.

Fellow fourth-graders Madalen Hargest and Arian Singh likewise enjoyed the event, with the water-rescue equipment proving to be a popular station for the students.

"That was probably my favorite part," Singh said of the Water Task Force.

Both students also said they enjoyed the fire prevention poster contest, and hoped it returns next year.

"It was kinda hard, but it was fun," Hargest said.

Flynn said Thursday's visit to Ionta Elementary School was just one of many similar visits the department's members were making to schools and other organizations throughout Hermitage during October, which is Fire Safety Month.

"By the time it's all over, we've probably talked to about 1,500 kids," Flynn said.

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