Lieutenant Todd Kunz helps firefighter in training Myson Litven use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire during the Osoyoos Fire Department’s annual Open House Saturday afternoon. Also at the event, junior volunteer firefighters competed in the gruelling Fire Fit Challenge obstacle course and firefighters demonstrated what happens when water is poured onto a grease fire. Mayor Sue McKortoff and Councillor Jim King were among the crowd who watched the demonstrations. (Michele Weisz photo)
Elementary school students made their way to the gymnasium Thursday morning for an assembly. They were greeted by members of the Osoyoos Fire Department who high-fived each student as they walked in.
The firefighters visited the school, in connection with Fire Prevention Week, to teach the children about what to do if there is a fire in their homes.
The children watched educational videos that explained how to stop, drop and roll and how to spot potentially dangerous situations in their homes. Firefighter Jim Liebel explained the importance of planning a safe meeting location outside of the home to wait for help in the event of a fire.
Liebel told the children that if a firefighter enters their home they should not be afraid by the masks and that “firefighters are your friends” who are there to help.
He explained that one can never know who a firefighter might be. To prove his point, a firefighter wearing a facemask and helmet walked into the gymnasium. The firefighter removed the mask and helmet and the students shrieked with joy when they realized that it was their principal Dave Foster.
The lights in the gymnasium were turned off as the firefighters demonstrated how they enter homes on their hands and knees looking for people who may be trapped inside. The firefighters explained the difference between the different coloured helmets they wear and how their equipment, air tanks, and extinguishers work. The children were able to ask questions.
When the assembly was over, the firefighters lined both sides of the gymnasium doors on bended knee to high-five each student as they exited.
MICHELE WEISZ
Osoyoos Times
Raelynn Silvers (foreground), Jake Schmidt and the rest of the Osoyoos Elementary School students high-fived members of the Osoyoos Fire Department Thursday as they left the gymnasium after an assembly. The fire department came to the school to teach the students about fire prevention as part of Fire Prevention Week. (Michele Weisz photo)
Lieutenant Todd Kunz demonstrates what happens when water is poured onto a grease fire during the Osoyoos Fire Department’s annual Open House Saturday afternoon. Children had the opportunity to try out a fire extinguisher on a real fire and junior firefighter volunteers competed in the Fire Fit Challenge obstacle course. (Michele Weisz photo)
Lieutenant Todd Kunz (left) helps Logan Fletcher use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire during the Osoyoos Fire Department’s annual Open House Saturday. (Michele Weisz photo)
Lieutenant Todd Kunz helps Sophie Quail use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire during the Osoyoos Fire Department’s annual Open House Saturday. (Michele Weisz photo)
A Junior, volunteer firefighter competes in the gruelling Fire Fit Challenge obstacle course as Lieutenant Todd Kunz looks on during the Osoyoos Fire Department’s annual Open House Saturday. (Michele Weisz photo)
A Junior, volunteer firefighter competes in the gruelling Fire Fit Challenge obstacle course as Fire Chief McCaskill looks on during the Osoyoos Fire Department’s annual Open House Saturday. (Michele Weisz photo)
