West Park Place students learn about fire safety

Students at West Park Place Elementary School got a hands-on lesson in fire safety during an event Tuesday evening.

The PTA partnered with Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company to host the event, which was aimed at teaching kids how to prevent fires and what to do if one occurs.

“We're always trying to bring community events that are a mixture of education and fun,” PTA President Alexys Salo said.

Most schools host fire prevention assemblies in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Month in October, but West Park's event gave kids a chance to explore the topic more in-depth.

Inside the school, kids and their parents could learn about smoke detectors, how to be safe around a stove, what happens when they call 911 and how to make a family escape plan in case of a house fire.

Outside, kids got a chance to climb inside a fire truck and an ambulance, and a volunteer firefighter donned his protective equipment to show kids what a firefighter will look like when coming to rescue someone trapped in a fire.

Each family received a smoke detector donated by manufacturer Kidde. A free dinner was provided by Drip Cafe and Rojo & Verde Taqueria.

Salo said the National PTA provided West Park with a grant to fund the event. It's part of a pilot for a program the national organization hopes to roll out throughout the country.

While the event was meant to be fun for kids, the educational aspect was even more important, Salo said.

“I'm really proud of our school community and our families, who see the importance of that and made an effort to come out,” she said.

She praised Aetna for partnering with the school.

“Raising a family and having children, it's all about community,” she said. “It's kind of like a circle, once one person puts in, another person puts in, and it just keeps giving.”