Department is hot for National Fire Prevention Week

Patricia Ecker

2/3/2000 12:00:00 AM

Seven-year-old Corrina Harris already has a good understanding of what to do if a fire is discovered at home.

"When there's a fire in your house, crawl to touch the door and if it's hot, go to the window and yell, �help!' You also need stuff in your house to put out fires," the Saginaw Chippewa Academy Binoojiinh Montessori lower elementary student explained. "�Don't play with fire, it's dangerous,' that is what I would tell my friends."

Saginaw Chippewa Fire Department officials are hoping that other youth are as informed as Corrina when it comes to fire safety and preventive tips.

That's why the staff is fired up over National Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 3 to 9. They will hold a prevention training event for students and community members at the fire department on Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. until noon.

Eight-year-old lower elementary student Apolonio Gomez IV explained the most important aspect of fire safety, "Get out of your house when there's a fire, and don't go back in!"

"The kids are our future. Let's teach them while we can," said Fabian Cantu, training officer and fire investigator. Cantu would like to incorporate a variety of educational training tools to keep the Tribal community members and Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort associates and guests prepared for fire related incidents.

One of his goals is to purchase a "fire safety house" for the Saginaw Chippewa Fire Department. Cantu borrowed this teaching prop from the Bridgeport Fire Department for the National Night Out on Aug. 3. This unique teaching device allowed about 300 Mt. Pleasant children to learn hands-on what to do in case of a fire in the home.

Because this educational tool isn't available for the department to use during prevention week, they will utilize the department's sleeping quarters to demonstrate in-home fire safety techniques.

"There have been times when children have run away from me in a house fire because they were afraid of my protective gear," stated Cantu. He added it's important children become familiar with the equipment worn by firefighters during a fire. They need to understand there is a person underneath all the protective gear who is there to help them.

Cantu would like to encourage community members of all ages to stop by the fire department on Oct. 6. The community is also welcome to stop by and obtain fire safety information and to see the equipment used by firefighters and paramedics.

Department officials are also purchasing smoke detectors to distribute throughout the community. For more information about National Fire Prevention Week, please contact the Saginaw Chippewa Fire Department at (517) 775-4866.