Kids throughout Marion County will be learning the basics of fire safety as fire prevention week gets underway. Val Kemp coordinates the Knoxville Fire Department’s visits to schools in the city. She says one of the most important things they teach children is to not be afraid of firefighters. Kemp explains they’ll have a firefighter dress in their gear in front of the kids, teaching them that they’re not as scary as they may appear in their gear. They’ll also go over basic safety techniques, such as stop, drop, and roll. She says kids will receive some material as well during the visit, and she encourages parents to go over it with them when they return home.
Pella Fire Chief Doug Van Gorkum agrees that one of the most important aspects of Fire Prevention Week is educating children. The Pella Fire Department will be stopping in to Madison and Lincoln Elementary Schools to teach 1st graders about the dangers of smoke inhalation and the stop drop and roll technique. Another concern is the drought, Van Gorkum says that Marion County did lift the burn ban, but they still ask that all open burns be reported to the police departments or Sheriff’s Office before and after the burn. He says if out of control open burns become a problem the burn ban will be put back into effect.