EMFD promotes fire prevention in a fun way

Ryan Chan, 3, and his brother, Joshua, 4, with every firefighter’s favorite spotted companion last Sunday at the East Meadow Fire Department’s Open House.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Carlyn Masiulis, 3, looked the part of a future firefighter.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Smokey the Bear with November Burke, 8, Angelina Figgs, 8, Jonathan Figgs, 7 and Jack Escobar, 7.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Wilmino Sainbert, 5, in full garb.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Antonio Bosotino, 12, and Christian Griparic, 4, atop an East Meadow fire truck, were all smiles.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Kids and parents watched Chief James Kane demonstrate fire preventive techniques for the kitchen stove.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

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It was a day of education, fire safety and community bonding at the East Meadow Fire Department headquarters at 197 East Meadow Ave. last Sunday. Department officials and volunteers hosted its annual Fire Prevention Open House, which included live demonstrations — including a vehicle extrication — fire truck rides, and informative hand outs on preventing fires inside your home.

A new addition to this year’s event, said Chief James Kane, was an accellerant sniffing arson dog from the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office, which helps the department investigate causes of fires. “You can have a drop of gasoline on a brick,” said Kane, “to the point where you and I won’t smell it, but she’ll sit right next to it.”

The day also gives residents the opportunity to meet the men and women who volunteer in the department, most of whom also live in the local community.

Fire Prevention week is recognized annually by fire departments across the nation in early October, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which, in 1871, burned down 16 towns — killing 1,152 people and scorching 1.2 million acres of land.

The annual week of fire safety began in 1922, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

“It was a good day,” Kane said. “A lot of people. Good weather and it went really well.”