Children practice fire safety in school with multiple fire drills each year. At home, there are also safety precautions they need to know, and that’s why Wantagh Elementary School recently welcomed local volunteer firefighters to give some tips. 

October is Fire Prevention Month and members of the Wantagh Fire Department visited the school on Oct. 18. During assemblies for students in pre-K through fifth grade, they discussed fire safety in the home, such as having working smoke detectors, knowing two ways out, and stop, drop and roll. 

Fourth and fifth graders then visited the fire safety trailer, known as the smokehouse. The inside is designed to resemble a bedroom, so children can practice exiting their home in an emergency. As the room filled with fake smoke and an alarm sounded, students would crawl to the door, feel if it was hot, then head to the window. After yelling “help,” they were led to safety by Wantagh firefighters and parent volunteers. 

“We value our partnership with the fire department and all of their efforts to keep our kids safe in school and at home,” Principal Dr. Randee Bonagura said, adding that students love to see the fire equipment and have their questions about fire safety answered from the experts.