The Griffith Fire Department invited the public to visit during its annual open house Oct. 13 at Fire Station 3. The event capped off Fire Prevention Week and provided opportunities for visitors to check out fire equipment, meet firefighters and learn from the many demonstrations that were featured.
“We try to be fairly active in fire prevention for the young folks and their parents,” said Fire Chief Roy Schoon.
Children learned what firefighters encounter daily by running through an obstacle course where, among other things, they had to climb through an open window, walk through a dark tunnel and test their firefighting skills by using a hose to douse a mock flame on a model building.
Other demonstrations that visitors viewed or experienced included auto extrication, the Survive Alive Smoke House, roof ventilation and why building sprinklers are beneficial.
“This is our largest PR event out of the year,” said Don Hill, deputy fire chief. “We need public support to be able to function and be successful.”
Hill said the open house is an opportunity to put everything out on display and tell people what it is that they do.
“A lot of people don’t realize that we roll out 265 times a year and answer fire calls from absolutely nothing to full blown structure fires,” he said. “We are an all volunteer department with no full-time members, so there is no presence at this station. We take advantage of a situation like this to get everybody up here. They can see the equipment, talk to the firefighters and they can participate in the displays too.
Along with the Griffith Fire Department, several entities participated in the Open House to help reach the public with their important safety messages. Little Obie, Canadian National Railroad's miniature locomotive, took guests on train rides around the block while educating them on railroad crossing safety. Also, police and firefighters set up a display to educate the public on the proper installation of child car seats.
Paul Sines from the Griffith Police Department explained that 75 percent of all car seats are installed incorrectly in all vehicles.
“In September we checked 19 car seats, and all car seats were installed incorrectly,” Sines said. “Not all makes and models of cars will take all makes and models of car seats.”
He said that stores like Toys R Us and Bed Bath and Beyond allow customers to take car seats outside and put them in their cars to and make sure they are going to fit.
Sines said one of the department’s biggest concerns is that children under the age of 2 are being turned forward-facing before they are old enough. For safety purposes, any child under the age of 2 must be placed in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of any auto.
Other highlights of the event included lots of hot dogs, chili and a Griffith Fire Department Auxiliary bake sale filled goodies to help raise money for the department.