Firemen celebrate National Fire Prevention Week with education

The Buffalo Center Fire Department invited the elementary classes at North Iowa Community School to visit the Buffalo Center Fire Station last Friday morning, in celebration of National Fire Prevention Week. The firemen gave the kids a tour of the fire station and the equipment they use, and they also provided short lessons related to fire safety.

Each grade listed to a presentation by the firemen about a different topic. The kindergarteners learned that firemen are their friends, the first graders heard about burn safety, the second graders learned about fire safety, the third grade discussed fire detection and carbon monoxide, and the fourth graders had a fire extinguisher demonstration.

In addition, Murra Hardware donated free smoke detectors for every student in the second grade class to take home, and the firemen distributed those on Friday. Buffalo Center Fire Chief Brian Blodgett says the majority of deaths that happen in a house fire occur in homes without a working smoke detector. Fireman Chris Berggren says it’s amazing how many people don’t have a smoke detector in their home. For the ones who do, fireman Nick Haugen says they tell the kids to remind their parents to check the batteries to make sure their smoke detectors are working.