Story by Ainsley Hall
MARTINSBURG — Berkeley County Schools celebrated Fire Prevention Week by inviting the Berkeley County Fire Department and its House on Wheels to come and teach students about fire safety.
Students from kindergarten to second grade watched a video on fire safety and then got to experience a simulation of a house fire through the House on Wheels, see a fire truck up close and talk with firefighters.
The fire department’s House on Wheels is a portable fake house that includes a small bedroom, living room and kitchenette, where firefighters can teach others how to respond in an emergency. The house teaches the kids to stay low, to touch doors to see if there is a fire on the other side and how to respond when they see smoke.
Fire Chief Martin Roberts shared that it’s important to teach kids about fire safety while they are young, in case they ever face that type of situation.
“It’s important to teach kids young,” Roberts said. “We want to emphasize the importance of having smoke alarms and a plan in case of a fire. One way they can do that is to have a meeting place outside the house. If we don’t get them at this age, we won’t reach them when they get older.”
This year, the fire department is not only visiting public schools but also making trips to private schools across the county to make sure it reaches as many students as possible. Last year, it reached around 3,000 students, while this year, it plans to reach 4,000. Each student received a plastic fire helmet, sticker and coloring book that guides them on how to make their own fire safety plan.
“You don’t always know if it will reach them,” Roberts said. “But if we can help just one child understand what to do, then we’ve done our job. Of course, we are hoping for a whole array of kids. We really want this program to be success to help keep kids safe.”
Kids also got to see a firefighter in all their gear and mask, so they know not to be afraid. Also, teaching kids simple catch phrases like “Stop, drop, roll” will remind them to stay calm and help save their life.