Fire Chief Gary Stuart and the Cowlitz-Skamania Fire District 7 teach fire safety to Yale students each year
Each year, the Cowlitz-Skamania Fire District 7 firefighters visit Yale Elementary School, Woodland Public Schools’ remote school located in Ariel, to teach students how to practice fire safety, the importance of calling 911 in emergencies, and to not be afraid of firefighters in full equipment.
Gary Stuart, the Fire Chief for District 7, brings the team to the school each year. “Learning fire safety is incredibly important for kids of all ages,” he said. “By visiting the school with gear and equipment, kids get to see what a firefighter in full gear looks and sounds like, so, in the event of a fire emergency, a child won’t be afraid if they see a fully-geared firefighter enter their home.” The firefighters bring fire engines to the school so students can hear and learn about the different trucks and sirens as well as see what firefighting foam looks like when sprayed out onto the parking lot.
The firefighters bring different trucks and equipment, and spray fire-fighting foam on the parking lot so students can see how it all works
Stuart and his team teach students what to do if a fire breaks out in a house. Students learn what they should do if a smoke detector goes off, how to exit a house safely, and the importance of having established escape routes in advance. Stuart and his team also teach students to have their families establish a safe meeting place outside so all family members can be accounted for following an evacuation.
Students learn the importance of respecting fire by not playing with matches, lighters, candles, or any other household objects that involve fire. “By knowing fire safety, many fires can be prevented simply by not being started in the first place,” said Stuart. Each student receives souvenirs from the visit: kindergartners receive fire hats, first graders receive Junior Fire Badges, and everyone receives a coloring book, stickers, and pencils. “The kids love having the fire engines and firefighters visit their school and we the firefighters love visiting Yale, too,” said Stuart.
Each student receives a souvenir such as fire hats, fire badges, coloring books, stickers, and pencils
Stuart has served as the Fire Chief since 2005 and was a volunteer fire fighter for 24 years prior to taking on the role. He and his wife, Sharon, have been coordinating fire prevention lessons for Yale Elementary students for around 15 years.
Woodland Public Schools