Firefighters connect with community at open house
Sugarcreek firefighter Greg Montgomery unleashes the fire that was brewing in this makeshift house as part of an informative demonstration during the department's open house.
The Sugarcreek Fire Department and EMS has been responding to house fires, automobile accidents, farm-related injuries and other circumstances. While the fire and EMS members are prepared to respond, they would prefer to prevent.
That was one of the purposes behind the Sugarcreek Fire and EMS open house that took place Friday, Oct. 18 at the fire station in downtown Sugarcreek.
The event featured safety demonstrations including CPR lessons and a demonstration on the importance of keeping doors closed during a fire, as well as activities for kids, like the fireman’s obstacle course, and plenty of food.
Sugarcreek Fire and EMS Capt. Michael Beachy said the event was a celebration of community and building relationships, as well as an opportunity for his department to share safety information with the public.
Beachy, who operates the fire-prevention bureau for the department, said the more the department can share and connect with the public, the better the chances are that safety precautions will be taken and there will be fewer responses to disasters.
“If you take two steps back and take a look at the big picture, we aren’t just here to respond, but to educate through fire prevention,” Beachy said. “We as a fire department and every other fire department should be held at a high accountability when it comes to helping people understand the importance of fire safety. There are too many people losing their lives, and that is unacceptable. That is why it is so critical to present these types of opportunities where families can learn some valuable information on fire safety, CPR techniques and so on, and we can do it in a fun and educational way.”
Beachy said there is a push to connect with area families who don’t have working fire alarms in their homes, and in teaming up with the American Red Cross, there is a program in place that has seen the department going out into the community to install smoke detectors.
Joining the fire department were the American Red Cross and Tuscarawas County Health Department, and Holmes Fire District #1 of Millersburg brought its traveling smoke and fire home, which allows visitors to experience what a home is like during a fire and the proper way to combat kitchen fires, how to escape a fire and more.
The department also gave a pair of demonstrations on fire safety by utilizing a small plywood two-floor home that they set on fire on the first floor. The idea was to show how a first-floor fire can spread quickly to the upstairs level. The demonstration proved how a room with a closed door was burned far less than one with an open door.
While prevention and safety information was key to the evening, there also was the element of community. Fire department members gave families tours through fire trucks and EMT vehicles, showed them around the station, encouraged children to participate in the obstacle course that included taking charge of an actual fire hose and dousing a make-believe fire, and CPR instructions.
“We were excited that people had a chance to come in and see our people and get to know us,” Beachy said. “It’s about building relationships. We would much rather meet families here in the confines of our station instead of out in the community when we are responding to a disaster. We can make a dramatic impact in safety when we go out into the community to give free safety presentations at schools or people come here to see us. We are getting there slowly but surely, and connecting with the community is a win-win for everyone, and in being proactive, we can prevent rather than respond.”
If someone would like to have a smoke detector installed in their home, they can call the department at 330-852-4316 to set up an appointment.