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Firefighters teach kids fire safety

Alex Turner, Airway Heights Fire Department firefighter, helps children spray water from a fire hose at a target on a water dunk tank during the Fire Prevention Youth Camp Aug. 3, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. To finish off the Fire Prevention Youth Camp children experienced what it was like to shoot a fire hose at a simulated fire target. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nick Daniello)

Firefighters teach kids fire safety

Children pour water into a bucket as part of the firefighter themed relay race competition during the Fire Prevention Youth Camp Aug. 3, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The children worked together as a team to imitate how fires were fought before the invention of fire hoses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nick Daniello)

Firefighters teach kids fire safety

Published Aug. 10, 2016
By Senior Airman Nick J. Daniello
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Officials from the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department held a Fire Prevention Youth Camp Aug. 3, 2016, at Miller Park.

Children learned about fire safety from Team Fairchild firefighters, the City of Airway Heights Fire Department and Spokane County Fire Districts 3 and 10. They also participated in a firefighter-themed relay race, a bouncy castle, water dunk tank and a mock fire house, also known as a smokehouse trailer.

"In the smokehouse trailer we teach kids how to dial 911 during an emergency and how to escape a burning house," said Bryant Benitez, 92nd CES fire inspector. "When we teach kids while they're young it imprints in their heads."

Making learning fun will also result in better memories and more of a likelihood they'll remember fire safety when they're older, said Benitez.

"We want to give kids the thought fire safety isn't boring," said Master Sgt. Andres Steevens, 92nd CES assistant fire chief. "The kids are more
likely to listen because they had fun with the fire department instead of us being at the Base Exchange going, 'change your fire detector.'"

For more information about fire safety, call the Fairchild Fire Prevention Office at (509) 247-3222.