Local pre-school students receive fire fighting training

The pre-school class from Danyelle’s Early Development Center took over the Fire District #2 Station Wednesday.
Ville Platte fireman and department training officer Chris Soileau gathered the group of 39 students in the garage of the fire station to begin their lesson on fire safety. Soileau informed and demonstrated to the children basic fire safety rules such as “fall and crawl” and how to properly “stop drop and roll.”
Soileau kept things fun for the kids, while also making sure that the students understood the seriousness and importance of knowing how to react in-case they were ever forced to face the flames of a real fire. The seriousness of being faced with a fire brought one little girl to tears. However, Soileau was there to ease the girl’s fears. “I know it is scary but that is why you are getting to learn all of these fire safety rules,” Soileau said to the little girl. “Now you will know exactly what to do.”
After learning how to check for fire on the other side of a door by placing their hands on the door and feeling for the heat, the class of students then got to enjoy walking around two of the districts fire trucks. The students viewed all of the gadgets on the fire trucks before getting to experience what it would really be like to work as a fireman putting out a fire.
Each student was given the opportunity to spray a real fire hose before ending their trip to the fire station. The fire hose was a little to powerful for the t-tiny fire fighters in training so firefighter Scott Dupre, in true fireman fashion, assisted the group of students in using the fire hose safely.
Danyelle’s Early Development pre-school class will not be the only lucky students to get to have fun with firemen.
Ville Platte firemen will also be visiting with students from other schools in the area such as Sacred Heart School, James Stephens Montessori School, Ville Platte Lower, and Chataignier Elementary. These students can start looking forward to learning all about important fire safety rules. Soileau said, “Children tend to hide because a house fire is very frightening for a child. But we can hopefully increase survival by teaching children fire safety rules at the earliest that a child can comprehend what they are being taught.”