Kindergarteners learn about fire safety, make new friends during visit from the fire department

Three schools have joined the fire department's Adopt-A-Class program.

  • By Nichole Osinski
  • | 9:42 a.m. February 8, 2018
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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“Who wants to be a firefighter when they grow up?” Port Orange Fire Department Lieutenant Adam Bivens asked the group of Port Orange Elementary students. 

Several hands shot up. 

“I do!”

“Me too!”

“I want to be a fire woman!” 

The kindergarten students had been participating in a morning fire safety program led by Bivens and two members of his crew, Firefighter Adam Nelson and Driver and Engineer Scott Russell. 

The students were learning about what to do when there was a fire, different types of fires and how to stop, drop and roll. 

Port Orange Elementary is one of two schools, Sugar Mill Elementary being the second, to join the Fire Department's Adopt-A-Class program. Cypress Creek Elementary was the first school to sign up for the program, which was spearheaded by Jordan Guido, emergency management coordinator and public education specialist, who spent the summer working on how the classes would be presented. 

"We are grateful for the support of the Port Orange Fire Department in teaching our students valuable safety lessons," Tennille Wallace, Port Orange Elementary principal, said. "As a school community, we enjoy providing these resources to our students because we know it's important to meet more than just the academic needs of our students."

The program was inspired by similar initiatives at fire departments in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Guido used to work, and Illinois, where Fire Chief Ken Fustin is from. Throughout the program, crews will follow the students from kindergarten to fifth grade with two structured presentations each year along with other drop-in visits to give students a close-up look at fire safety. 

For Wallace, having the firefighters come in to speak with the students is also a way to connect them with community resources. Wallace said that the administration is always looking for ways to provide more than just the basic academic needs for students. 

Bivens said he is looking forward to seeing how the new program progresses as well as how they will be able to connect with the students during each class visit. 

"Fire safety is super important," Bivens said. "It's just always good to get a chance to talk to the students at a younger age."

Sugar Mill Principal Mary Speidel's husband was a firefighter with the county for 37 years so the program is close to her heart. She added that the program is also beneficial for students to understand the role of first responders in the community.

"When fire service members visit our schools, our students not only learn about the organization and job requirements, but they have an opportunity to build positive relationships with firefighters. Perhaps that may inspire some of our students to choose a great career of service and become a firefighter."

 

 

 

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