School’s Own Fire Patrol Helps Conduct Fire Drills

School’s Own Fire Patrol Helps Conduct Fire Drills

The whole idea of school fire prevention has extra meaning for over 900 children in Huntington, W. Va. They are members of the Fire Patrol and actively participate in school fire drills and monthly fire safety meetings.

Lieutenant J. H. Damron of the Huntington Fire Department currently heads the program which originally started in 1950 with the blessing of the Huntington Board of Education. It is based on cooperation among students, teachers and the fire department. A teacher volunteers to coordinate the 18 to 24 members at each school from grades 4, 5 and 6. The fire department presents each member with an ID card and a distinctive belt. Hopefully parents will also benefit from the takehome materials and fire awareness of the members.

Assistance by the Fire Patrol during fire drills is by specific assignment from the supervising teacher. Each patrol has a student captain and lieutenant, with badges furnished by the department. Other students may be assigned to hold open the exit doors until the last person comes out; to check out each restroom or other parts of the building such as rooms, office, kitchen, teachers’ lounge; to prevent running and loud talking during the fire drill; or to assist elsewhere as needed.

During Fire Prevention Week, the Fire Patrols march in a large parade. The members are rewarded with an outing at a local amusement center, courtesy of four business sponsors.

About as many girls sign up for the patrols as boys. An annual Miss Spark contest is sponsored by the fire department and contestants must be members of the Fire Patrol. They appear on a local television show and have a pizza party to get things started. The judging is at the civic center. Miss Spark and her attendants ride on a fire apparatus during the Fire Prevention Week parade.

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