Because fire safety starts with prevention, the American Legion and Auxiliary Unit 319 teamed up with the Clinton Fire Department to ignite the minds of local youngsters on how to stay safe in “hot” situations.

The auxiliary, which is a non-profit group of ladies who are either wives, sisters, mothers or daughters to veterans or active duty officers, felt teaming up with the American Legion was the best way to reach as many youngsters as possible.

“We try to do a lot of community service year-round,” said Helen Faison, Auxiliary Unit 319 about the two groups’ mission Monday afternoon.

According to Faison, fire prevention and safety is very important and something in which everyone, young and old, needs to be made aware.

“All through the year you hear stories about kids playing with matches and candles, so we thought it was very important for the kids to learn about safety,” Faison explained.

Joining the Auxiliary and American Legion were two Clinton firefighters, Brandon Gainey and Josh Tyson.

“Would you like to see what we do if we get a call?” Gainey asked the crowd of mostly 6 and 7-year-olds, which all gazed on with eager eyes.

Mocking a call, Gainey began to put on the heavy fire repellent suit, boots and jacket.

“We put on as much as we can, as quickly as we can,” Gainey expressed to the children as he zipped up his boots.

“What we can’t finish putting on at the fire house, we finish in the truck,” Gainey added while slipping on his heavy, yellow jacket and fire helmet.

One curious audience member asked if the fire house mascot, Ashes, rode with the team to calls.

Gainey answered, “No, she stays at the fire house.”

Erika Worthael asked Gainey if they took the hose with them up big buildings, and if so, how?

“Our ladders have to be somewhere we can get to quickly,” Gainey told her. “We practice with putting the ladders next to the fire house and climb up with the hose.”

Next, young Worthael wanted to know how they put out the fire once up on the roof.

“We cut a square hole in the roof to put the fire out,” Gainey illustrated.

“But, I have a brick house,” the concerned Worthael responded.

“Hopefully you don’t have a brick roof,” Gainey said with a laugh.

Another adult audience member wanted to know how the firefighters are trained to ease the minds of victims who are scared of heights.

“There are so many guidelines and procedures that we must follow to ensure your safety ... I would tell you to close your eyes and I would hold tight until you were safe on the ground,” Gainey stated.

The question of how to become a firefighter was also brought to the table by a parent, and Gainey listed the measures needed to qualify for that profession.

He first told the children that they needed to stay in school. “There is a lot of schooling that happens, even after high school; so stay on your P’s and Q’s,” Gainey revealed.

He further told the youngsters that they would needed to spend six to eight months in the academy learning how to operate the truck, prevention education and safety measures.

“What should the kids do to prevent a fire?” a parent asked.

“Do not play with matches. If you see one, what do you do? Ttell an adult,” Gainey emphasized.

Gainey also told the parents and children that having a designated meeting spot is a smart plan to have.

“You have a plan at school or day care, right? It should be that same at home,” Gainey stated.

Young Worthael then revealed, “We have a fire drill at school and we always practice. We get up, get in line, go outside and look at the building.”

“It should be the same at the home, too,” Faison told the youngster.

Although the target audience was the children, Gainey also reminded the parents, before concluding, to never battle a fire that is “out of control.”

After the prevention education segment, the children were brought outside to explore the fire truck, they even got a chance to sit in the driver seat.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at 910-592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonnc.com