6 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, October 15, 2009






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 NAS Fire Inspector Robert Adams gives feedback to Public Works personnel on how they performed during a random fire drill during Fire Prevention Week.



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 From Staff
 N AS Jacksonville firefighters were highly visible
 last week as they visited numerous commands
 and facilities to promote fire safety during the
 Annual fire prevention week. The event is held every
 F year during the week of Oct. 9 to commemorate the anni-
 versary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
 SFirefighters spent hours educating the public through
 ..4-"static displays, lectures and demonstrations. They also
 held fire drills at various buildings on the base in an effort
 .".. ..-.. .to increase fire prevention and safety awareness.
 "Cooking is the number one cause of fire in the home, so
 we really want every
 week to be fire preven-
 P .tion week," explained
 }NAS Jax Chief Fire
 Inspector Charles
 McCoy.
Firefighter Garrett Wilhelm lets the kids of NAS Jax Child Development Center touch his gear to get them familiar so they A Fires can be dead-
won't be afraid in case they are ever in a real fire. ly. Each year, thou-
 ly. Each year, thou-
 sands of lives are lost
 and property is dam-
 A: aged due to fires. And,
 according to the base
 Fire department, most
 people aren't prepared
 NAS jax Fire Prevention Inspector to prevent or respond
 .Robert Adams hands out fire safety to fires. Learning some
 material and a fire hat to Brody fire prevention facts
 --. Gervia at the Fire Prevention Week will help put you on
 display at the Navy Exchange Oct 5. the same team as the
 fire department. It may also save your family's lives or
 prevent your home from being destroyed in a fire.
 Last week's events began with a visit to the Navy
 .'i'X Exchange (NEX) Food Court where firefighters passed
 out information on fire safety to NEX patrons, answered
 Questions about their shiny red ladder truck and gave fire-
 ...'fighter hats to children. Also on hand to help promote fire
 -. ...safety was "Pluggie, the fire hydrant" a unique, remote
 *- *" *"...... control device that can talk, move, roll and blink his eyes
 S..and spray water. Many of the people walking by were
 quite surprised as they were sprayed to get their atten-
 :"'@*' Ition.
 "Pluggie is a great way to teach children and adults
 fire safety. Everyone is thrilled to meet him," said Fire
 .Inspector Robert Winchester.
 -- 7The firefighters also visited the NAS Jax Youth
 --. Activities Center where they gave the children a close-
NAS jax Fire inspector Robert Adams helps a group of children from the Youth Activities Center understand what to do in case up look at one of their fire trucks as they explained each
of a fire inside the Navy Fire Safety House. The house offers several simulated scenarios to help educate the public about fire
safety. See FIRE, Page 7

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Lt. Heath Weslowski of NAS jax Fire Department, shows Kymoi Fennell of the Youth Activities Firefighter Elizabeth Lynch teaches the kids of NAS jax Child Development Center how a fire
Center how to operate a fire hose during Fire Prevention Week. hydrant works.