Midwest City Fire Department recognizes fire prevention month

Previously, the department organized a program each October where the districts grade school children could travel to the station and go through many types of fire safety drills and procedures. With cutbacks in school field trip funding, there has been a reduction in the number of schools who could participate.

Beginning last year, fire department officials decided to take their program on the road and go to every grade school in Midwest City.

“We think it is very important to continue educating our school children in the areas of fire safety and prevention each year,” Fire Marshal Tim Synder said. "We view the time we spend with the students to not only be our responsibility, but, necessary in helping to reduce the number of fire related deaths and injuries among children."

This year, the program will reach approximately 4,000 students in Kindergarten through second grade in 13 public and private schools. Three events are setup in the school parking lot for participation from each class.

First, each class takes a turn in the education trailer, which creates “smoke” and causes the students to reenact exiting a house that is on fire.