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Juniata Elementary School students learn about fire safety

Fire departments visit Juniata Elementary for fire prevention month

By Matt Churella 4 min read

Juniata Elementary School students learned about fire safety awareness Tuesday as the Logan Township United and Altoona fire departments visit each of the Altoona Area School District's eight elementary schools throughout October for fire prevention month.

Students in kindergarten through third grade participated in lessons inside the Mobile Fire Safety Center, which simulates a kitchen environment to learn about fire prevention and a smoke-filled bedroom to teach them what to do in case of an actual fire. The firefighters spoke with fourth and fifth graders at an assembly.

It's an initiative that's been proven successful for several years, according to Rusty Shoenfelt, Logan Township United Fire Department's chief.

"We've proven over time that this has saved lives," Shoenfelt said, adding that firefighters occasionally hear stories from people about how they used what they learned to safely escape a fire.

"That's all the feedback I need to devote a bunch of time to this," Shoenfelt said, noting the fire service isn't just about putting fires out. It's about preventing them, too.

"If I never go to another fire in my life, that's OK," Shoenfelt said. "As long as we can try to prevent fires from happening and then teach people what to do in case of, it's well worth it."

While in the trailer's kitchen portion, a group of kindergarten students gathered around city firefighters Dan Chesnut and Clayton Phillips, who talked with them about how there should never be a towel hanging over a stove or a toaster plugged in near their kitchen sink at home.

After asking students to point out anything they saw that might be an issue in the kitchen, Chesnut directed their attention to a pot handle, which was sticking out over the front edge of the stove.

If they ever see a pot handle facing that direction at home, it's important to tell mom or dad, or whoever might be cooking in the kitchen, that pot handles should always face inward toward the center or the back of the stove, Chesnut told the students.

Kids should never be running around or playing in the kitchen whenever adults are cooking, Chesnut said, noting hot, boiling water can get knocked over accidentally and cause burns that are even worse than coming into contact with an open flame.

But not all fire is bad, Chesnut told the students, adding campfires can be used to create delicious s'mores. In unison, the students acknowledged they should never attempt to light their own fires and there should always be an adult present when they're at a campfire.

Candles should never be left burning unattended because if a window is open, wind could blow the blind over the flame, and that creates bad news, Chesnut said.

While talking with the students about smoke detectors and what to do if one goes off, Chesnut gave the students homework -- to go home and speak with their parents or guardians about where their family's safe spot is.

They'll want to have a safe spot on the same side of the street as their house, but a little bit away from their house, Chesnut said, noting everyone needs to know where their safe spot is so when firefighters arrive on scene, they know whether everybody is safe or if they need to search for someone.

"You guys are our priority when it comes to a fire," Chesnut said, assuring the students that firefighters will save their teddy bears and gaming consoles as long as they get out of the house first.

"We'll save all that stuff, but we care about you guys first," Chesnut said.

When the students moved to the back of the trailer, they learned what to do in case of an actual fire -- crawling low in smoke, checking doors before you open them to make sure they're not hot and the importance of having more than one way out of their bedroom.

Erin Hott, an elementary student support specialist, said the firefighters answered questions for the students and showed them what to do if their house ever does catch on fire.

"One of the students was able to demonstrate how to crawl and then exit," Hott said.

Upon leaving the trailer, students then gathered around a firetruck and learned about the equipment firefighters use to protect lives and property.

The school visits will continue over the next couple weeks, with firefighters bringing the mobile center to McAuliffe Heights at Irving Elementary, Logan Elementary and Baker Elementary next week. The following week, they'll visit Ebner, Juniata Gap and Pleasant Valley elementary schools. Penn-Lincoln students received their fire safety lessons Monday.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.

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