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ABINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT’S PARTICIPATION IN FALL FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL KEY TO GOAL OF RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS, EDUCATING COMMUNITY
ABINGTON – In an effort to reach out to prospective volunteers and teach community members about fire safety and prevention, approximately 60 members of the Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) participated in the Fall Family Fun Festival on Oct. 3rd at Abington Senior High School.
Volunteers from the ATFD’s five companies attended the public event, which offered residents some hands-on opportunities to learn more about the department, its volunteers and the various equipment and apparatus used by the ATFD. Those who stopped by to visit with volunteers had a chance to use a hose to knock a tennis ball off a traffic cone, tour the “Safety House” which teaches children how to escape safely from a burning home, and crawl through a “cold smoke tent” to experience what it’s like finding one’s way through a dark maze wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus.
In addition to the hands-on activities, residents also had the opportunity to watch volunteers perform a mock vehicle rescue. Firefighters stabilized a vehicle and used high performance hydraulic rescue tools, as well as other equipment to dismantle a car and demonstrate how they would extract accident victims.
Josie Licari and Lori Knapp of Abington found the demonstration intriguing, noting that they were curious to see how vehicle rescues are actually accomplished after having heard about them. Both agreed that having the opportunity to see volunteers in action gave them an appreciation for what they do.
“You see how important it is to have them,” said Ms. Knapp, with Ms. Licari adding in that the demonstration showed volunteers do much more than simply put out fires.
Marcy Licari, Josie’s mother, said she was impressed by the speed of the operation, which was carried out by members of several different companies.
“They work as a team, and it goes very smoothly,” she said. “It really takes a lot of people.”
Joan and John Rarick also stopped by to watch the demonstration, and noted that such staged events can show residents what their local fire departments can do and how necessary they are.
“It helps impress upon people of the township what resources are available, and what a great job these guys do,” said Mrs. Rarick.
Firefighters themselves agreed that participating in events like the Fall Family Fun Festival are important for enhancing community relations, as well as building camaraderie among members.
“We get to work together as a team,” said Paul Conroy, Assistant Chief of the McKinley Fire Company.
Chris Bors, Chief of McKinley, added that having a public presence at the Fall Family Fun Festival serves the ATFD’s ultimate aim of bringing in more volunteers.
“Our biggest goal is promoting the fire department to the public for the ultimate goal of recruiting new members,” he said. “This is an ideal way to reach out to people.”
The ATFD’s participation in the Fall Family Fun Festival also served as a kick-off to Fire Prevention Week, which is held annually during the week containing Oct. 9th. Fire companies will be holding open houses throughout this week. For information, visit www.AbingtonFD.org.
PHOTOS:
Fall Family Fun Festival participants had the opportunity to use fire hoses to knock tennis balls
off traffic cones when they visited the Abington Township Fire Department’s display Oct. 3rd.
Abington Township Fire Department volunteers use high performance hydraulic rescue tools
to pry open a car as part of a vehicle rescue demonstration.
Jake Yagur of Cheltenham is helped out of the Safety House, a trailer used by the
Abington Township Fire Department to teach youngsters how to escape from burning buildings.
Seen here are the members of the Abington Township Fire Department at the Oct. 3rd Fall Family Fun Festival.
Seen here are the vehicles on display at the Fall Family Fun Festival.
Parents and children observe the smoke tent that was part of the
Abington Township Fire Department’s display at the Fall Family Fun Festival.