The New Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department recently taught fire safety to New Martinsville School students. Students were shown how to use a fire extinguisher and were taught the acronym P.A.S.S. which stands for pull the pin, aim at the base, squeeze trigger and sweep. Each child got a chance to use the fire extinguisher as they aimed at the windows of a fire safety simulator. The children were also able to go through the kid’s safetyhouse and were encouraged to point out fire hazards they saw. They were also taught what to do in the event of a fire and got to practice what they learned as the safetyhouse filled with smoke. Mr. Tim Pugh of the fire department stated the department conducted demonstrations for 347 children over the span of three days.

The NMVFD also heads up the S.A.F.E. Home Child Education Project. This is a smoke alarm giveaway program to teach the importance of smoke alarms and fire safety practices to children.

During fire prevention school demonstrations, fire prevention educators of the NMVFD distributed smoke alarms to all kindergarten children in the New Martinsville School. Over the last 17 years, the program has allowed them to place 1,788 smoke alarms in the homes of young children.

This year they were able to place another 116 smoke alarms in homes, and the child’s smoke alarm gift is a constant reminder to the child to follow the fire safety practices taught to them.