Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Exeter Volunteer Fire Department teaches Exeter-Milligan Fifth Graders all about Fire Safety

Exeter-Milligan Fifth graders enjoyed their time in Junior Fire Patrol and are pictured with their instructors and their marshal certificates.  The are front row from the left Travis Gilliam, Vicki Androyna, Katarina Mounce, Hannah Horne, Joey Bartu, Eric Olsen. Second row from the left Derek Axline, Tara Mueller, Hannah Beethe, Janey Erdkamp, Seth Maxson, Clarissa Mounce and Patrick Murphy. Back row of instructors from the left are Mark Beethe, Assistant Fire Chief Tim Axline, Tammy Sladek, Hope Androyna, Fire Chief John Mueller, Assistant Fire Chief Ken Strate and Junior Fire Patrol Chairman Ed Mark.  See the slideshow for more photos of the students receiving their certificates and in action with the jaws of life.

The Exeter volunteer fire department has a new recruiting class on Monday nights. Not only are they recruiting future volunteer members but they hope to “bring both fire and first aid knowledge into their future to help them, their families and society as a whole,” said Jr. Fire Patrol Chairman Ed Mark.

Students in the Exeter-Milligan fifth grade are invited to attend Junior Fire Patrol Class for four weeks in October. To become a Junior Fire Marshall they must attend all four two hour classes, turn in the required homework and pass the final exam.

Each class session involves curriculum training and quizzes while mixing in some hands on experiences. The students learn how to run a hose with live water, put out a real fire with a fire extinguisher, try on fire gear and use a jaws of life.

The program was started in 1998 when Mark compiled the curriculum from materials he used when a volunteer at the fire department in Genoa, materials from the Fire Marshall and from a department in Virginia. Most of the materials he had to create himself. This year, however, he had some extra help from department member Hope Androyna. “Hope was able to modernize the teaching material and classroom. She brought in some DVD’s and some new books for the kids.” said Mark.

Some of the weekly homework involves designing a fire escape plan individualized to students’ home, checking smoke detectors at home, and reading about fire prevention. “The kids seem to enjoy the program year after year. Since the program has started kids and their parents have expressed gratitude for what it has given our youth.” The instructors gain from it too, they get so much satisfaction from helping kids in their community,” said Mark.
The students enjoy fresh baked cookies each session provided by Greg’s Market while their graduation party includes pizza donated by Casey’s in Exeter.

This year thirteen fifth graders completed the course and became Junior Fire Marshall’s. They are Travis Gilliam, Vicki Androyna, Katarina Mounce, Hannah Horne, Joey Bartu, Eric Olsen, Derek Axline, Tara Mueller, Hannah Beethe, Janey Erdkamp, Seth Maxson, Clarissa Mounce and Patrick Murphy.

Each Monday evening session was planned by Mark who is assisted by Fire Chief John Mueller, Assistant Chief Tim Axline, Assistant Chief Ken Strate and Volunteer Fire Department members Hope Androyna, Mark Beethe, and Tammy Sladek.

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