Fire Prevention Week Highlights

Fun Fire Education at VFD Open House

Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

Vegreville Fire Department (VFD) put out the welcome mat for members of the public on October 12.

VFD Captain Chris Jardine said they hold the Open House in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week that runs from October 9 to 15. “This is our annual Fire Prevention Open House that all Fire Departments in North America do.

Children of all ages participate in the activities.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)

We made this celebration a fun event by having all the fire trucks here. The kids love it! They always have. Fire departments’ vehicles are very visual. If you ever seen fire trucks at city centres, the trucks are washed outside because when people drive by, they see it. So, when people see the apparatus or they see the gear, it is fun for the kids and if they happen to be in a real life situation where they need the fire department, they aren’t scared. Nothing is scarier than being in a house and someone is trying to call you and they are terrified.

Children of all ages participate in the activities.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)

Right now, kids know more about fire prevention than adults do because we push it on the kids. I guarantee if you were going to ask some parents about how to make an escape plan, the kids can tell their parents how to do it. We are making them ambassadors to fire prevention.

Some of the activities and freebies we had for this open house were fire prevention brochures, colouring books and crayons, stickers, supervised tours of the fire trucks and equipment, Sparky the Fire Dog greeting the kids as well as coffee and donuts,” Jardine explained.

Mannville Firefighters Host Fire Prevention Week Pancake Breakfast

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Around 145 people attended the annual pancake breakfast at the Mannville fire hall on Oct. 15. Captain Dean Gadke said the pancake breakfast is a long held tradition and is always held during Fire Prevention Week. For many years all proceeds from the pancake breakfast go to Muscular Dystrophy. This year they were able to raise $1200.

Helping serve up breakfast was Brook Perron, who joined the fire department a month ago. Brook said her dad Allan Drinkwater has been on the fire department for “quite a while” and she felt it would be a good opportunity for her.

Firefighter Sven Hebbard with a stack of steaming pancakes along with his team members at the ready.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

“I’m interested in the medical field and thought this would give me a good feel for it.” She’s attended a couple of training nights and is looking forward to going out on calls in the future. One of the other reasons Brook joined the department is because she wanted to serve the community. “I really like events like this and getting to know people,” said Brook. She has also spoken to some of her classmates about joining the department. The Grade 11 student is setting her sights on nursing. She is planning on attaining her nursing degree and perhaps become a pediatrician. Brook said she loves children and thinks it would be great to work at the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Cadet Brook Perron outfits her younger brother Liam in bunker gear.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Don Speck said he became a firefighter in 1988. “We’re coming up on 35 years.” Don said he has always wanted to help people in need. “The way I look at it was if that was my family out there I’d want someone to help them.”

He first started with the Hines Creek Fire Department, and spent three months as acting fire chief. After that he served as fire chief of the Worsley Fire Department before moving to the Mannville area in 2009.

Sabrina Perron holds son Liam beside husband Allan Drinkwater holding baby Navy with daughter Brook. In front are Leni, Jaycee and Emma.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Don said he’s met a wide variety of people and built friendships throughout the years. He’s enjoyed all of the time he’s spent serving as a firefighter.