Fire Prevention Week brings firefighters, equipment to Delta Elementary

Fire Prevention Week wrapped up with a hands-on lesson in fire safety for Delta Elementary School students, as the City of Delta Junction and Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department (RDVFD) brought their fire engines, equipment and firefighters to the school.

Fire Prevention Week ran Oct. 6-10, beginning with a visit from Fort Greely’s Fire Department and its familiar mascot, Sparky the Fire Dog. Created in 1951 as the official mascot of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Sparky has spent decades helping teach children about fire safety.

His mission includes raising awareness about smoke alarms, fire prevention, and the importance of knowing a home’s escape plan. Sparky brought along some friends who read to younger students and shared important fire-safety messages.

But Sparky’s visit was only the beginning.

On Thursday and Friday, the area’s two local volunteer fire departments rolled into the schoolyard with their fire engines and a battalion truck, giving students an up-close look at the vehicles, equipment, and protective gear firefighters use on the job.

The visit offered more than a chance to admire the trucks. Students climbed inside the vehicles, examined the tools carried aboard the engines, and even tried on some of the firefighters’ gear. The unfamiliar equipment and protective clothing also gave students an opportunity to see that the people behind the masks and bulky gear are their local firefighters.

“We learned the first day not to point out the horn,” quipped firefighter Dave Neuburger.

And for good reason. The horn was loud and steady enough to make an impression on the young visitors, plus those still in the classroom.

Beyond the noise, however, there was plenty to explore. Curious students peppered firefighters with questions: What was behind that door? Could they open it? How did a particular tool work? Could they try on the gear or sit inside the truck?

For the firefighters, answering those questions was part of the experience. For the students, it was an opportunity to learn about fire safety while discovering what goes into responding to an emergency.

District Superintendent Michael Lee said the visits provided a valuable learning experience that could have an impact well beyond the schoolyard.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” Lee said. “Not only are they learning fire safety, but a seed could possibly be planted. A student may leave thinking, ‘I want to be a firefighter someday.’ And then will go on to be a firefighter.”

Fire Prevention Week has a long history in the United States. Its origins are tied to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which devastated large portions of the city. President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week in 1925. The annual observance is also recognized in Canada.

For Delta Elementary students, this year’s observance brought those lessons to life, turning fire safety education into a chance to climb aboard a fire engine, inspect the equipment, and meet the people who help protect their community.

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