If this weekB次元官网网址檚 Fire Safety Expo is any indication, the future of West Shore firefighting is in good hands.

Grade 4 students from across the Sooke School District were given an opportunity to learn about common fire safety hazards around the home B次元官网网址� in addition to bike and earthquake safety B次元官网网址� while also trying their hand at firefighting by extinguishing a controlled blaze under the close supervision of West Shore fire crews.

The 21st annual event, which took place in and around the Metchosin fire hall, combines fun with an important education piece, noted Chris Aubrey, Assistant Fire Chief with the Langford Fire Department.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so many different life and skill sets that the kids are learning here that are going to keep them safe B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a great opportunity to educate a thousand kids in two days and itB次元官网网址檚 always a really successful event that the kids and I really enjoy,B次元官网网址� he said.

For working an extinguisher, Colwood firefighter Scott Abrahamson teaches the students the PASS system; Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the lever and Sweep side to side.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an easy word that they can remember and itB次元官网网址檚 a good way for them to know how to use the extinguisher,B次元官网网址� he said.

The event has proven to be such a hit that it has routinely garnered praise at provincial firefighting functions. But perhaps the biggest mark of success is the feedback the department gets many years after the fact, where individuals will escape a dangerous situation and cite the skills they were taught at the Fire Expo as a reason why.

B次元官网网址淥ur hope is that the skills that they learn today are skills that they can keep for their entire life,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com

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