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Sparky the firefighting mascot greets children in the parking lot of Home Depot.
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ENLARGE
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Ashton Gillespie, center, and other first-grade students from East Primary School in Sutherlin get excited as a Life Flight helicopter lands in the parking lot of Home Depot in Roseburg during a Fire Prevention Week event. Visitors at the event got close looks at emergency helicopters, fire trucks and police cars.
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ENLARGE
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Children tour a Life Flight helicopter Wednesday in Roseburg.
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Ashton Gillespie and Liam Jones rolled down the blue and yellow mat in front of the Home Depot garden entrance Wednesday.
The two 6-year-olds were actually learning, but it was so fun they probably didn't notice the extra education as they stopped, dropped and rolled.
“I was just rolling and rolling, and I just rolled onto the cement and it hurted,” Jones said, smiling so wide and speaking so quickly he could only breathe in gulps.
This week is National Fire Prevention Week, and the Douglas County Fire Prevention Cooperative kicked off its prevention carnival at Home Depot Wednesday.
Fire engines and firefighters, information booths, live fire demonstrations, a Ferris wheel and, of course, Sparky the Fire Dog and Smokey Bear were on hand for the students Wednesday.
Coordinators of the event said their goal is to offer schools and the public a fun opportunity to learn about fire safety and prevention. It's also a platform for fire agencies to teach some behavior modification that can make a difference and halt fires early.
The event continues through Friday and is open to the public.
Door prizes to be awarded Friday include six bikes and razor scooters donated by Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort. Cabin packages from local businesses and child safety seats will be given away as well.
The cooperative includes more than 30 Douglas County fire agencies. Agencies outside the organization, such as the Oregon State Police, the Oregon Burn Center and Umpqua Valley Fire Services were also on hand Wednesday.
Around noon, the 80 to 90 Sutherlin first-graders got to watch Fire Marshal Josep Pedrola from Douglas County Fire District No. 2 usher in the Life Flight helicopter, which was returning to the event after being called out to an accident in South County earlier in the morning.
The two 6-year-olds were actually learning, but it was so fun they probably didn't notice the extra education as they stopped, dropped and rolled.
“I was just rolling and rolling, and I just rolled onto the cement and it hurted,” Jones said, smiling so wide and speaking so quickly he could only breathe in gulps.
This week is National Fire Prevention Week, and the Douglas County Fire Prevention Cooperative kicked off its prevention carnival at Home Depot Wednesday.
Fire engines and firefighters, information booths, live fire demonstrations, a Ferris wheel and, of course, Sparky the Fire Dog and Smokey Bear were on hand for the students Wednesday.
Coordinators of the event said their goal is to offer schools and the public a fun opportunity to learn about fire safety and prevention. It's also a platform for fire agencies to teach some behavior modification that can make a difference and halt fires early.
The event continues through Friday and is open to the public.
Door prizes to be awarded Friday include six bikes and razor scooters donated by Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort. Cabin packages from local businesses and child safety seats will be given away as well.
The cooperative includes more than 30 Douglas County fire agencies. Agencies outside the organization, such as the Oregon State Police, the Oregon Burn Center and Umpqua Valley Fire Services were also on hand Wednesday.
Around noon, the 80 to 90 Sutherlin first-graders got to watch Fire Marshal Josep Pedrola from Douglas County Fire District No. 2 usher in the Life Flight helicopter, which was returning to the event after being called out to an accident in South County earlier in the morning.
Ember Rogers had just finished learning how to use a fire extinguisher when the helicopter landed. She said riding in a chopper sounded like fun.
One of the many door prizes to be given away on Friday includes a 30-minute helicopter ride.
While the Life Flight crew was on standby for any emergencies, Pedrola said the other engines and crews on hand weren't needed at their various stations unless a big fire calls them out.
“Most of the guys like the interaction with the kids,” he said. Laughing, he added, “it gets them out of inspection and training.”
Douglas Forest Protective Association spokesman Tom Fields said this year's event was one of the biggest in recent years and maybe even the biggest event on the West Coast in terms of size. He felt the larger venue and number of agencies involved were making an impact.
Sutherlin teacher Melissa Freeman agreed.
“This is amazing, it's so interactive,” she said, as she waited for kids to unload from the Ferris wheel carriages so they could move on to another station. “Just look at their little faces — they will definitely remember (fire safety and prevention) because of all the activities they got to do.”
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
One of the many door prizes to be given away on Friday includes a 30-minute helicopter ride.
While the Life Flight crew was on standby for any emergencies, Pedrola said the other engines and crews on hand weren't needed at their various stations unless a big fire calls them out.
“Most of the guys like the interaction with the kids,” he said. Laughing, he added, “it gets them out of inspection and training.”
Douglas Forest Protective Association spokesman Tom Fields said this year's event was one of the biggest in recent years and maybe even the biggest event on the West Coast in terms of size. He felt the larger venue and number of agencies involved were making an impact.
Sutherlin teacher Melissa Freeman agreed.
“This is amazing, it's so interactive,” she said, as she waited for kids to unload from the Ferris wheel carriages so they could move on to another station. “Just look at their little faces — they will definitely remember (fire safety and prevention) because of all the activities they got to do.”
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
