- November 14, 2024
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What do pancakes, first responders and a few fire trucks have in common?
They were all part of Fire Prevention Week, when several Volusia County fire stations held open houses to bring the public in and give residents an opportunity to see each department's workforce. Port Orange Fire and Rescue opened Station 73 and had a Flapjack with Firefighters on Saturday, Oct. 7.
National Fire Prevention Week is from Oct. 8 to Oct.14. This year’s National Fire Prevention Week theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”
This year, Emergency Manager Jordan Guido, who is also the department's public educator, came up with the idea for a pancake breakfast open to the public during fire prevention week. Chief Ken Fustin wrote in an email that the department wanted it to serve as a way to let the public understand the department's lifestyle and be learn about staying safe.
"The public often forgets our facilities are public buildings," Fustin wrote. "So we encourage the community to stop in and enjoy visiting the firefighters at the firehouse who have dedicated their lives to protecting this community."
For Fustin, one of the biggest misconceptions people have when it comes to fire safety is thinking an emergency will never happen to them. He said this mentality needs to be replaced with the knowledge of what to do when an emergency affects that individual or loved on.
"Fires and emergencies happen every day to people in all walks of life," Fustin wrote. "Knowing CPR, knowing how to communicate to a 911 dispatcher and knowing how to stay calm are all vital components of living a successful fire-safe lifestyle.
Fustin added that not everyone knows many of the department's members can't afford to live in Port Orange but still continue to obey and "honor to protect and save the life of a complete stranger during a time of emergency."
According to Fustin, the department's public education program was eliminated during the economic downturn, which, in turn, lead to interaction between the general public and the Port Orange Fire Department during non-emergency situations becoming nearly non-existent.
However, Fustin noted the fire department is working hard with the resources they do have to help citizens become re-educated about the values of living in a fire-safe environment.
"I hope our visitors enjoyed their time and will always feel welcome to return," Fustin said of the open house.
As for fire safety itself. Fustin explained it is a reminder of the oath he took when he joined this profession to "not only risk my life for a complete stranger, but to take the time that I have to educate those same strangers about fire safety, so they can increase their chances of maintaining a fire-safe life style, or know what to do, should a fire or other emergency happen to them."
