Fairhaven Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Amado demonstrates the proper way to use a fire extinguisher on a live fire during the Fire Department Open House for National Fire Prevention Week on 10/6/24. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Fire Department held its annual open house on Sunday, 10/6/24, in recognition of National Fire Prevention Week. The day featured a variety of demonstrations, including a fire demonstration and how to use a fire extinguisher; obstacle course; smoke house; and car extrication using the giant cutters and spreaders known as the Jaws of Life. The public got to ride on an antique fire engine, and climb into and around a variety of fire and police vehicles.
Public Information Officer, Maggie Rocha, explained to a small but enthusiastic crowd the various steps for removing someone who is trapped in a car.
She told the crowd that a newer challenge is the large lithium batteries for electric vehicles. She said if the battery is too big to submerge completely in a bucket of water, they mostly have to let them burn out. They also have a blanket to put around the whole car to prevent flare-ups while the car is being towed. Then the car is completely submerged in water and has to stay there.
So, it is not just putting out the fire, she said. It requires several more steps for an EV.
Car manufacturers also put a small fire hat symbol to let firefighters know where it is safe to cut.
One young boy asked about air bags.
Ms. Rocha said the best way firefighters protect themselves from air bags going off is to disconnect the battery.
Ms. Rocha also explained how wo put out different kinds of fires. Chemical/grease fires need a chemical fire extinguisher because water will make it worse. She also explained the correct way to use a fire extinguisher while Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Amado demonstrated PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
Children climb around the obstacle course during the Fairhaven Fire Department Open House for National Fire Prevention Week on 10/6/24. Photo by Beth David.
Children and their adults could also crawl around inside a smoke house and crawl out the window and down the ladder to experience the lowered visibility a smokey house would have.
Mr. Amado and newbie Wilson Smith raced to see who could gear up first. Ms. Rocha explained how important it is for firefighters to get their protective gear on quickly. The veteran FF won the contest, but Ms. Rocha gave Mr. Smith some cover, saying his gear is still kind of stiff because of how new it is. The gear weighs 50–70 pounds depending on the number of tools they add to their belts.
The two firefighters in full gear then walked about the crowd so children could see what they would look like if they entered the house.
The look and sound “a little scary,” said Ms. Rocha, so it helps if children know what they look like so they don’t have to be scared.
The public was also treated to free pizza, juice, and candy, along with other giveaways, such as plastic firefighter hats.
Young Sophia could not name a favorite part. She said she liked “all of it.”
Young Logan tried to pick up the cutters used to cut the car. He managed to lift it, but with great difficulty.
“It was really heavy,” said Logan, adding he thought the way they took apar the car was “cool,” but he liked it the most when they took off the windshields.
“It was very heavy,” said young Anthony Byrne, who was just barely able to lift it up a few inches.
They both said they knew they would grow up to be strong enough to lift if someday.
“It went well,” said Fire Chief Todd Correia, adding it was Ms. Rocha’s third year organizing the event and she was “getting better and better at it.”
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- L-R: Fairhaven Call Firefighter G. Bourne Knowles and Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Amado remove the windshield of a car as part of a demonstration during the Fire Department Open House for National Fire Prevention Week on 10/6/24. Photo by Beth David.
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- L-R: Newbie Fairhaven Firefighter Wilson Smith and FF/Paramedic Ryan Amado race to see who can gear up faster during a demonstration at the Fire Department Open House for National Fire Prevention Week on 10/6/24, with Mr. Amado taking home the bragging rights. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven Call Firefighhter G. Bourne Knowles, uses the big cutters that are part of the Jaws of Life, to take apart a car during a demonstration at the Fire Department Open House for National Fire Prevention Week on 10/6/24. Photo by Beth David.
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