For over 50 years, the Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Company has proudly joined forces with members of the Jonesville, Clifton Park, and West Crescent Fire Departments to teach fire prevention to students in grades K–5 throughout the Shenendehowa School District. Each year, firefighters deliver hands-on lessons that grow with the students as they advance through school.

In Kindergarten, children learn how to dial 911, practice safety around matches and lighters, and meet a firefighter dressed in full turnout gear to help them feel comfortable in an emergency. First graders review and reinforce these same important skills, while second graders take a closer look at the protective gear and learn more about fire safety at home. In third grade, students focus on creating a solid home escape plan that could save their lives and their families in the event of a fire. Each student’s plan is reviewed by a firefighter and returned with feedback, along with a certificate that can be redeemed for a tour of the firehouse.

By fourth grade, students are ready to dive into the science of fire, including the fire triangle and common ignition sources around the home. The lesson ends with a crowd favorite, the flashback tube demonstration, showing how flammable vapors can be. Fourth graders are also challenged to design fire prevention posters, with one winner from each class earning a ride to school in a fire truck! The program concludes in fifth grade, where students learn about the dangers and consequences of misusing fire, including the legal and emotional impacts of arson.

While there’s no way to measure how many fires or emergencies have been prevented because of these lessons, the lifelong safety habits instilled through this program have undoubtedly made a lasting difference across generations.