Firefighters Saluted In Observance Of Patriots’ Day At Reed School

By Shannon Hicks

Did you see 9/11 in person?

Do you ever get scared?

Do you like your job?

When was your latest call?

What inspired you to become a firefighter?

Does your family worry about you?

Fifth grade students in Karen King’s class and sixth grade students in Al Washicko’s class at Reed Intermediate School asked these questions and more of members of Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue Company when the volunteers visited the school last Friday afternoon. More than 45 students welcomed eight firefighters into their room shortly after 1 pm, when the volunteers were greeted by cheers and enthusiastic applause.

The visit was in part an observation of September as Fire Prevention Month. The students in the two classes that hosted the firefighters also wanted to salute some of their local heroes, meeting them in person and asking about their work. Students also shared some of their memories of 9/11, and then shared refreshments with the volunteers who had obviously enjoyed their time with the young students.

Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue Second Assistant Chief Michael Burton was joined by Engineers Ryan Clark and Stephen White, Firefighters Kelly Burton, Garrett Clark, and Stephen Clark, and company members Liam Ferguson and Shannon Hicks. Seated in front of the students, who themselves were either in chairs or sitting on the floor in the shared classroom space, the firefighters took turns answering questions and sharing recollections of local fire and emergency events for more than 30 minutes.

“It was an experience, there was so much commotion,” Garret Clark said in response to being asked about his first fire. “Everybody has a job to do, but even that [first fire] was a learning experience.”

The firefighters stressed the amount of training that members of all five of Newtown’s fire departments devote to their duty. Sandy Hook’s members, the children were told, have two mandatory drills each month and the opportunity to learn either through company-sponsored workshops or on their own any time they want to.

“Remember, these guys are volunteers,” Mr Washicko told the students. “They work all day or have school all day, and then they get home and they put their heads on their pillows and if that fire alarm goes off, they answer it. They don’t work certain shifts at the firehouse. They’re always on call.”

There were questions about how late Sandy Hook will answer calls (any hour), when their most recent call was (other members of the company had just responded to a report of wires down on Gray’s Plain Road less than 30 minutes before the program started), whether they have fire dogs (no, because there isn’t always someone at the fire stations), and some of the tools they use (an iron and an ax, while simple, are the most commonly used).

While the firefighters stressed that they respond to more than fires — “We actually have more medical calls, car accidents and even false alarms than fires,” Assistant Chief Burton told them — the children were nevertheless fascinated with the fire-related topics.

One student asked the firefighters what their worst fire was.

“The biggest one we had recently was Mrs Wasserman’s house,” Mr Burton said of the structure fire at the home of former State Representative Julia Wasserman in May 2004. “That was a big fire. We were there for probably 12 hours, and we still couldn’t save that house.”

“There’s too much going on when you’re in the middle of a fire or another emergency,” Garrett Clark said in response to a subsequent question, about fear. “Your training kicks in because everyone has to take care of something. You don’t usually get scared until later, when you think about what you’ve been through.”

When asked how they feel when they go into a fire, Ryan Clark told the children, “Hot.”

“You get lost a little bit too,” he said when the giggling stopped. “It’s really dark and you can’t see very well. You have to use and trust your instinct.”

When asked how they feel after a fire or emergency call, two of the firefighters responded almost simultaneously.

“Tired,” said one.

“Exhausted,” stressed the other.

The teachers reminded their students about the importance of fire safety and caution in the home.

“September is Fire Prevention Month. How many of you have plans in place with your parents so that you know where to go and what to do in the event of an emergency at home?” asked Mr Washicko. Most hands, fortunately, went right into the air.

“If you don’t have a plan, make one this month,” he said.

“The best thing to do is check your home fire alarm, at least twice a year,” Assistant Chief Burton said. “Check and change those batteries every time you change the clock.”

Mr Burton also answered Ms King’s questions about the most common causes of house fires.

“Smoking and candles,” he replied.

A few students took their turns sharing their thoughts and feelings. Katherine Moran showed a painting that had been done by her father in response to the events of 9/11. Riley Smith showed everyone a photo of her cousin, John Lucas, who was killed that day.

Clare McKinley talked about two family friends; one who died that day, and another who is alive only because of a last-minute change of plans that kept him away from Ground Zero. Sage DeSimone read a poem she had written about firefighters, and Sean Minchak showed off a display he had made using toy fire trucks and building blocks.

“I’ve been doing this since 9/11 because I didn’t know how else to commemorate this day,” Karen King later explained. “The children have the opportunity to meet local heroes, but they also prepare questions that elicit answers stronger than Yes and No. They also learn how to be good hosts.”