LANDIS — Things were buzzing around Landis Elementary School on Tuesday as members of the Landis Fire Department were there to share about fire safety in observance of Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12.

Captain Todd Bittle, Engineer Dale McDuffie and Firefighter Gabriel Hudges shared information with the students and provided them with opportunities to see the department’s new inflatable fire safety house and climb aboard the fire engine.

Kindergarten and first grade classes came at varying times during the day to participate in the special event. The students’ excitement was evident as they raised their hands wanting to answer and ask questions and share their own stories and as they made their way to the inflatable house.

Emphasizing the importance of teaching children, Hudges said, “it’s good to start molding the young minds at this age.”

Bittle also stressed that same necessity as he said, “you’ve got to start when they’re little.”

In addition to teaching safety, he said this might also “put it in their head, ‘hey, I might want to be a fireman one day. It looks like fun, a big red truck, sirens and stuff.’”

These things just might impress on their minds doing this as their career, just as Bittle himself said he remembered being at Landis Elementary and they had fire safety when he was young and the fire chief visited and brought the truck. He also said it stuck in his mind the chief sitting on the floor with the kindergarten kids and showing them how to crawl and roll.

“I thought that was kind of neat,” he said.

McDuffie went with part of the group to see the firehouse while the others remained with Bittle and Hudges, who continued talking with the students.

Hudges showed them some of his gear including his helmet and boots and told how important they are in keeping the firefighter safe.

As the first group left the inflatable house, the second group made their way in to see the rooms, where if the smiles and squeals were an indicator, they were having fun.

Principal Dr. Ashley Roach, along with some teachers, also took this opportunity to walk through the house.

“I just think it’s so incredibly important that we’re teaching these children fire safety,” said Roach, noting all that is going on in the world, she said, “children need to understand how themselves as well as their family need to be kept safe and understand the process.” 

Roach also said it is very important to “have a partnership with our local fire department, to make sure we are supporting them, and they support us, and that partnership is just so key in making sure that this school runs as well and so it’s very important.” 

The new interactive fire safety house, which was donated by a foundation, debuted at the town’s recent National Night Out and was brought to Landis for this special day.

The department, Bittle said, would also be providing fire prevention instruction with students at Corriher Lipe; however, instead of them going to the school, the students would be visiting the fire station.