Kids flock to West Metro’s 17th annual Family Fire Muster
Youngsters talk safety with Sparky the 'talking' fire dog at the Family Fire Muster Saturday.
LAKEWOOD – At least 10,000 people showed up for Saturday’s Family Fire Muster at Red Rocks Community College, taking home a number of safety lessons learned and tired-out youngsters.
The event, one of two safety-related community events on consecutive August weekends, gave kids a better understanding of what to do in
Trike rider cruises through training course.
an emergency, but the lessons were delivered via fun and games, not stodgy lectures.
“Kids get the chance to be a fire fighter for a day while learning valuable life saving lessons,” said Michelle French, West Metro spokeswoman. “Hands on activities give families the chance to practice escaping from a smoke-filled room, properly fit a bike helmet and life jacket, learn to keep children away from matches and lighters and a whole lot more.”
More than 13,000 people attended last year’s event. Actual attendance figures were not immediately available for the 2010 muster, which this year was postponed for the first time in its 17-year run. It originally was scheduled for June 8, but rainy and cool weather forced a two-month postponement.
Youngster races in heavy togs.
But the show went on Saturday, when West Metro staff and volunteers showed youngsters the ropes of fire fighting and safety, including escaping from a “smoke” filled room draped ceiling to floor with black curtains. The first 1,000 youngsters visiting the Teddy Bear Clinic left with a free stuffed animal. The young “firefighters-for-a-day” also wielded fire hoses, aiming live streams of water at a “wildland fire” target, donned heavy official firefighter outfits in a race and cruised around a tricycle safety course with traffic signals and safety messages.
They climbed aboard the big-rig fire trucks for a hands-on experience from the drivers’ seat.
“They get a chance to meet firefighters and other emergency responders in a real positive light here trying to help them as opposed to just seeing them at their house (during an emergency). It’s not just family-friendly, but pro-educational,” said West Metro Fire Chief Douglas McBee.
In addition to the West Metro activities, more than a dozen other health and safety agencies offered free giveaways and personal safety information.
The muster began in 1994 when what then was the Lakewood-Bancroft Fire Authority, recognizing the fascination big red fire trucks spark in kids of all ages, rolled its fire-fighting equipment and other emergency vehicles to the parking lot of Carmody Recreation Center. Several hundred people showed up to get a closer look at the vehicles and visit with fire fighters.
The Fire Authority later became West Metro, and the Muster continued, and in 1997 turned it’s focus to offering families a free, fun and
informative event to kick off their summer.
The West Metro Fire Rescue Family Fire Muster is presented by a number of partners, including St. Anthony Hospitals, Foothills Credit Union, Texas Roadhouse, Comcast and www.YourHub.com.
