News

Dover AFB fights fire with prevention

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman James Bolinger
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Dover Air Force Base Fire Department finished off their annual Fire Prevention Week with a parade through base housing and an open house at the base fire station Saturday. 

Many Dover families attended the open house where fire fighters not only show-cased their skills and equipment but trained children in fire safety and prevention practices. 

"The goal of fire prevention week is to educate the public," said Tech. Sgt. Tony Knight, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron fire inspector. "The more we can educate the public on fire safety, the less chance we have of responding to a fire at their residence. Educating the public is our best bet for stopping fires." 

The open house offered several events for children to practice fire safety procedures.
At one station, children crawled through a tunnel filled with smoke to practice staying low to the ground. If they wanted to, the children could use a heat-sensing video camera to navigate the tunnel. 

There was an opportunity for children to put out a propane fire with water-filled fire extinguishers and also a chance to use a fire hose to spray a simulated fire inside of a small house. 

Children tried on miniature fire suits and had their photos taken, then watched a military working dog demonstration performed by the 436th Security Forces Squadron. 

"I did all the activities," said Rachel Gardner, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Randy Gardner, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "I crawled through the smoke (tunnel), put out the fire and played golf. The (working dog) show was really cool. I have never seen them before." 

The open house isn't the only event the fire department sponsors in for fire prevention week. 

"We visit the Child Development Center and the Youth Center," said Sergeant Knight. "At the Youth Center the children participate in the Mr. and Ms. Flame contest. There were three different age groups, and the kids answer questions about fire prevention. The children who answer the most correct win the title." 

Fire Prevention Week and the open house were a huge success, said Sergeant Knight.
"We hope we met our goal in educating as many people as possible about fire prevention," he said. "We will try to keep the same line up for next year and maybe even get some more agencies involved. We are trying to get more vehicles and bands for the parade and offer car seat checks all week long and at the open house." 

The Fire Department would like to thank the base populace for supporting the open house and also the various agencies that made it a success, said Sergeant Knight. 

They would also like to remind members that Oct. 29 is the end of daylight savings time and they recommend that members change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they turn their clocks back.