It’s October, and that means that Malad Elementary students from Kindergarten, first, and second grade classes made their walk down to the Fire station to learn about what the Fire department does for the community, and what they can do themselves to be aware of fires in their homes.

The visits to the station have been a regular feature of the Fall in Malad, and correspond with national Fire Prevention Month, which was instituted to help raise awareness of the common causes of fires, and provide information to individuals, families, and businesses about how to minimize the potential for fires and mitigate them should they occur.

The timing is perfect, as wildfires are burning throughout the area at the moment, and the winter season is typically one of the busiest for housefires.  Electrical overloading, woodburning stoves, portable heaters, and a number of other common housefire-causing issues are prevalent throughout the season.  Students were given instructions on what to do in the event of a housefire, and shown some of the equipment that firefighters use to combat flames.

They were also taken through an obstacle course firefighters use to train on, and given a supervised turn at the firehose, which is always the apex of the visit.  Following a tour of the engine, students were given the chance to sound the horn, which absolutely woke anyone up still sleeping near the area in the late morning.

Malad and Oneida County’s volunteer fire department is a bedrock of the community in terms of emergency response, as well as community involvement.  The Fire Department sponsors and supervises fireworks displays throughout the year, for instance, in addition to providing other public services and working tirelessly to make sure the community stays safe.

In the event of a fire or other emergency, residents are advised to first dial 911 in order to have the appropriate services dispatched.  The number to the Fire station itself is 208-766-2355 for any questions about services or fire prevention strategies that members of the public might have.