Fire Prevention team visits 15 elementary schools

RIO RANCHO — Throughout the month of October, Rio Rancho’s Fire Prevention team visited 15 elementary schools providing fire safety to thousands of young students.

“The experience is always good. The kids are always excited to see us and ‘Fireman Stinky’ — that’s what all the kids call me. It is always fantastic to be able to be welcomed into all the schools and to see the excitement on the kids’ faces,” said Aaron McDevitt, a fire inspector/prevention specialist for the Rio Rancho Fire Department Fire Marshal Division.

Fire Prevention Month is marked annually in October, and the Rio Rancho Fire Department continued its tradition of visiting elementary schools to share fire safety tips and exercises.

“I have been teaching these fire prevention lessons in October since I have been with Rio Rancho FD over the past 19 years. Not only have the students become accustomed to our presence, but the teachers and admin of the schools as well,” McDevitt said.

During their time at the schools this year, 3,402 students in kindergarten through second grade were reached and the fire prevention team spent 114 hours teaching.

“They are so excited to share what they remember from the previous year and to learn new information this year. There are many of the teachers that have taught the same grade levels for many years that also look forward to seeing us and teaching their excited students,” McDevitt said. “This allows them to also help teach and re-enforce these important life lessons to these kids as well.”

The presentation at schools began with an inside portion which transitioned to an outside portion. Students crawled in an outside blow-up smoke house to teach students how to stay low and crawl through pretend smoke (water vapor) and make their way out of the house safely. Students also tried on actual firefighter bunker gear and got the chance to spray water from a fire engine hose.

“There is a lot of prep work that is put into the month of October that starts months before that. From scheduling the dates and times of all 15 schools, getting the number of students that will be taught, and making sure the supplies are ordered to be able to supply swag that helps teach and re-enforce the lessons,” McDevitt said.

McDevitt praised the 13 members of the fire prevention team who helped teach and conduct the outside presentation portions.

“This all would not be possible if it wasn’t for the 13 members of the fire prevention team that help teach and conduct the outside portion of the prevention lessons,” McDevitt said. “If we are able to help a family or kids know what to do and help assist someone in an emergency situation because of what they have learned, our mission is complete.”