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GBFD to recognize Fire Prevention Week at schools
Fire Department with banner
The Great Bend Fire Department displays a Fire Prevention Week banner at the Fire Station on Williams Street Friday. - photo by BY DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Last week, Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed Oct. 4-10 as Fire Prevention Week in Kansas, and the Great Bend Fire/EMS Department will once again use the occasion to educate local students on fire safety. 

This year’s theme will be “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.”

This year, the department will make in-person, outdoor presentations to local preschool and kindergarten students, which will include a visit from Great Bend firefighters and Sparky the Fire Dog, and gear demonstrations to help students get to know the firefighters and what they do.

This year, Great Bend Fire Inspector Mark Orth said, for the older grades, the department would produce a YouTube video to be shown in the schools on the topic of fire prevention.

Orth said, kindergarten and 1st grade students will receive Sparky-themed coloring books, and 2nd and 3rd graders would Sparky-themed activity books. Kindergarten students will also receive fire hats donated by Alliance insurance. 

Every student kindergarten through 6th grade will receive a fire escape plan to take home and fill out and discuss with their family.

Sixth graders, he said, would also be given a take-home survey. If they fill it out and return it, they will receive smoke detectors provided by MPIRE Properties.

As part of Fire Prevention Week, Orth reminds all citizens to check their smoke detectors every month to ensure they are working properly, and to change the batteries in smoke detectors once a year unless it contains a 10-year lithium battery. He also said smoke detectors should be replaced every ten years, or as they wear out.

As part of the celebration, Orth said each student kindergarten through sixth grade will receive junior Frosties donated Wendy’s, as well. Orth also noted Keller Real Estate and Insurance and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary as other community sponsors of the event.

In-person visits will tentatively take place from Oct. 5-Oct. 15 at the following locations. If firefighters must answer a call, Orth said visits would be rescheduled:

• Monday, Oct 5:

Holy Family Elementary kindergarten - 9 a.m,, 10 am, 1 pm..

Central Kansas Christian Academy - 2 p.m.

• Tuesday, Oct 6

Noah’s Ark Preschool - 8:45 a.m.

Cherished Blessings Preschool - 9:30 a.m.

Noah’s Ark Preschool - 1 p.m. 

• Wednesday, Oct. 7

Noah’s Ark Preschool - 8:45 a.m.

Park Elementary Kindergarten - 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Noah’s Ark Preschool - 1 p.m. 

•Thursday, Oct. 8

Riley Elementary 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. 

Eisenhower Elementary - 1:15 p.m. and 1:45 p.m.

• Friday, Oct. 9

Riley Elementary Kindergarten - 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. 

Jefferson Elementary Kindergarten - 10:30 a.m.

Riley Elementary Kindergarten - 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

• Monday, Oct. 12

Lamb’s Gate Preschool 9 a.m.

Little Blessings Preschool 10 a.m.

Lincoln Elementary Kindergarten - 1 p.m. 

Little Blessings Preschool - 2 p.m.

• Tuesday, Oct. 13

Lamb’s Gate Preschool - 9 a.m.

Sunflower Incredible Years - 10 a.m.

• Wednesday, Oct. 14

Great Bend Children’s Learning Center Preschool - 10 a.m.

Lamb’s Gate Preschool - 11:15 a.m.

• Thursday, Oct. 15

Sunflower Incredible Years Preschool - 8:45 a.m.

Helping Hands Preschool - 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Helping Hands - 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.