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ABINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT SPREADS THE WORD ABOUT FIRE SAFETY THROUGH
OPEN HOUSES HELD DURING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, OCT. 5-9
ABINGTON – The Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) welcomed community members into all five of its fire companies between Oct. 5th and Oct. 9th to educate them about fire safety as part of Fire Prevention Week.
The open houses, which took place at Roslyn, McKinley, Weldon, Edge Hill, and Abington fire companies, were well-attended, with hundreds of families stopping by each station to learn more about the volunteers who serve their communities.
At McKinley Fire Company on Oct. 6th, approximately 150 residents visited the station and had a chance to observe two demonstrations – one that showed how quickly firefighters have to get their gear on when responding to an incident, and another that showed how firefighters use ladder trucks. Children were invited to sit in fire engines, as well as tour the ATFD’s Safety House, a trailer that contains replicas of the rooms of a house to demonstrate where potential fire hazards can be found and teach children how to escape from a burning building. Other displays were set up inside the fire station to educate families about fire prevention.
Phil and Arlene Rodgers brought their 6-year-old son, Phil Jr., to the open house and said they make it an annual tradition to go and support their local fire company. In addition, the event provides them with an opportunity to teach their son about fire safety.
“You get to know who the firefighters are and it makes you feel more connected to the local fire department when they do things like this,” said Mrs. Rodgers.
Commissioner Jay O’Connor, who represents Ward 4 of Abington Township, said the open house is a great chance for neighbors to get to know one another. It’s also an opportunity to introduce young people to the fire company in the hopes that one day they might join.
“It’s sort of like opening your house to let the public in,” he said. “It’s a real positive event.”
Pat and Elena Loughney brought their two young sons, 2-year-old Patrick and 1-year-old Joseph, to the open house. Pat, a former McKinley firefighter, said he wanted his boys to be able to see the trucks, but added that the event has a larger purpose.
“It’s a great opportunity for the (fire company members) to show the amount of time and effort they put in and what they do,” he said.
Mrs. Loughney added that it’s important for teaching youngsters about fire safety.
“It helps children understand what fire trucks are for. They are starting to ask questions like, ‘Why are there fires?’” she said of her own two boys.
Fire Prevention Week is a national campaign that has been observed since 1922 on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9th falls. Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishes a different educational theme for Fire Prevention Week. This year, the theme is “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned” and focuses on burn prevention and awareness. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org. For more information about the ATFD, call (267) 536-1055 or visit www.AbingtonFD.org.
PHOTOS:
“Boots,” the Abington Township Fire Department mascot,
made an appearance at McKinley Fire Company’s Open House on Oct. 6th.
McKinley Fire Company Chief Chris Bors, right, and Ryan Sharkey, left,
demonstrate how firefighters get their gear on for those who attended the Oct. 6th Open House.
Children have their picture taken as they sit in one of McKinley’s fire engines during the Open House Oct. 6th.
Youngsters get a kick out of Abington Township Fire Department’s fire truck robot, “Patches,”
during the Oct. 6th Open House at McKinley Fire Company.