Itasca firefighters teach value of sprinklers
About 150 fifth graders got a lesson in fire safety Friday at the Itasca Fire Department. In an annual demonstration, firefighters set on fire two rooms set up in the fire station parking lot.
One room had sprinklers, one did not.
"We teach them the importance of getting out of a house in case there's a fire," said Jenny Bahr, firefighter/paramedic.
Firefighters put the fires out and then were able to show the damage in each room.
The children were able to see that the room with the sprinkler had minimal damage and the room without the sprinkler was engulfed quickly in flames and everything was destroyed.
"We try to teach them fire safety and just the importance of getting out, staying out and staying low in the smoke," Bahr said, "because fire does spread rapidly."