Throughout each year, St. Stephens Fire Department participates in fire prevention and fire and life safety education activities. These programs are taught and displayed for all age groups. Fire department staff will come out to public events, churches, business, and schools to provide the programs and will also bring a fire truck and equipment for static display. There is no charge for this program. The members of St. Stephens Fire Department strive and are dedicated to protect every citizen within the St. Stephens Fire protection district. Even though these events are provided throughout the year, October seems to be the busiest month due to fire prevention month and fire prevention week. Fire Prevention Week is always the first full week of October. During this time, schools and daycares request the fire department to come out to teach the students about fire safety and to show the students a fire truck. During this time of year there may be a conflict with scheduling due to the schools scheduling in advance for the education activities. The scheduling is based on first call first serve. During these scheduled events there may be a true emergency call that comes in that the firefighters and fire trucks will have to respond to. The firefighters and trucks scheduled for these events are still in service for emergency calls. In the event that this may occur, the firefighters and fire trucks may not show up at their scheduled time for the event. However, when the emergency call is over we will continue as scheduled or try to make contact and reschedule the event as soon as possible. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause and thank you for your patience and understanding. The following is some of the events that we have participated in for 2013. We would like to thank you for allowing the staff of St. Stephens Fire Department to participate with you and educate the children.

May 2013, St. Stephens Fire Department staff participated in Letter land Day at Murray Elementary School. This program included students and teachers from Kindergarten – first grade. Fire department staff assisted with the education of 120 students that participated in the program. Letter land is used in thousands of schools and is endorsed by experts, trusted by teachers, and loved by children across the world. Letter land is a unique, phonics-based approach to teaching, reading, writing and spelling to 3-8 year olds. The letter land characters transform plain black letter shapes into child friendly pictograms. The child friendly letter characters provide visual memory clues for the children so they will learn and retain letter shape and sound correspondences quickly and securely. Learning the letter shapes and the sounds they make in words helps children to become confident and secure readers. St. Stephens fire department became involved to help with the education of the letter “F”. The character is firefighter Fred. For the day of the event, the staff from St. Stephens Fire Department becomes firefighter Fred. We discuss the sound and shape of the letter “F”. The staff also recognizes the letter “F” with the fire truck on site and also foam. We explain how Firefighter Fred uses the Fire truck and Fire hose to Fight Fire with Foam. Fire department staff sprays foam for the students and allow the students to touch and feel the foam as well as holding the fire hose. The students, who are dressed as their favorite character from letter land, may enter and sit in the fire truck if they tell us what letter they are dressed to represent, and the sound that it makes. After the event, the staff involved from St. Stephens Fire Department had lunch with the Kindergarten and first grade students.

October 8th, St. Stephens Fire Department participated in Career Day at St. Stephens Elementary with the assistance of Hickory Fire. Fire Department staff was on site along with other work force professionals to share the roles of different occupations. This event was to give the students a wide variety of the work force and the importance of each occupation. This helps to prepare the students to be thinking of a career early and to help guide the young minds to stay in school and become educated to have a beneficial future. St. Stephens Fire Department had two engines on site with a variety of tools that are used in the fire and rescue field. Fire department staff spoke to approx. 300 students from grades Kindergarten – sixth grade. Explained were the uses of different tools that a firefighter uses for different task. We explained why the fire truck was so big and so important even when there is no active fire because of all the tools that it is required to carry. We explained how firefighters have to be prepared and have the appropriate tool no matter what task is at hand. Also, explained was the different jobs that most firefighters are responsible for. For example, fire suppression, medical emergencies, traffic accidents, natural disaster incidents, education, inspections, and different type of rescues for humans and even animals. The students observed the operation of the Jaws of Life and were allowed to view and sit inside the fire truck. The fire department staff on hand also explained the importance of staying in school and how the firefighter continues to go to school throughout his or her entire career. Explained was the importance of reading, writing, and math in the fire service.

October 11th, St. Stephens Fire Department staff participated in fire prevention and education at Clyde Campbell Elementary school. Fire department staff spoke to 150 children in grades Kindergarten – first grade. Throughout the morning, classes would come outside for a fire safety presentation and a display of the fire truck. Each group was educated about exit drills in the home, the 911 system, crawl low under smoke, smoke detectors, stop-drop-and roll, the hazards of playing with fire, and once out stay out. Also demonstrated was a firefighter dressed in turn-out gear. We dressed slowly in front of the students and explained each part of the protective clothing so the student would know firsthand what a fire fighter looked and sounded like in the gear and breathing apparatus. We explained how important it was to not hide from a firefighter if trapped in a house fire and that firefighters are your friends and are there to help you. After the presentation, the students were allowed to get inside of the fire truck and walk around the truck to see the different tools that it carries. They each had to answer a fire safety question before entering the fire truck. After all the presentations were completed the firefighters involved had a little fun with the students and played on the playground then had lunch with the Kindergarteners and first graders.

October 20th, St. Stephens Fire Department participated in the second annual customer appreciation day at Anchor-Richey EVS. St. Stephens Fire Department hires and entrust Anchor-Richey for repair and service work on emergency equipment and apparatus. The maintenance and service work is done on an annual schedule to ensure all equipment is operating properly and is at its best performance when trusting it with the lives of the community and the lives of the firefighters who use it. St. Stephens Fire Department strives to always be prepared for the task at hand no matter what piece of equipment is required for the job. We try to ensure that the firefighters are trained on the equipment and the equipment is always ready for use. For the day of the event, St. Stephens Fire Department provided brush unit 44 for static display. This unit is a 1999 Ford F550 which was designed and built by Anchor-Richey. This apparatus was one of the first brush units designed by Anchor-Richey and the oldest brush unit on display for the event. The event proceeds for the day was in support of the Remembrance Rescue Project and The NC Fallen Firefighters Foundation. On site was many activities and displays for adults and children which included hot rods, fire truck displays, door prizes, vendors, awards, raffle drawing, food, and a tour of the Anchor-Richey facility. Also displayed was FDNY retired Rescue 5 which responded to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11th, 2001. This apparatus is part of the Remembrance Rescue project which travels to educate, honor, and remember the events and those affected on “9/11”.

Please feel free to contact Deputy Chief Josh Randolph to have an event or activity set up. Groups are welcome to schedule a time to come to the fire station as well for prevention, education, station, and fire truck tours. Contact Josh Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm at 256-2375 for further details or event scheduling.