Fire station visit thrills littlies

Fire engines filled with children could be seen on the streets of Stratford on Wednesday morning as PORSE childcare groups visited the Stratford Fire Station.

"We are always happy to show children through the station," says Stratford deputy fire chief Dion Howells.

Childcare groups from around the district visited the fire station so that carers and children could learn valuable fire safety tips.

Emma Brook, programme co-ordinator for PORSE South Taranaki, says trips like these are invaluable for the children.

"While they may seem to be more interested in the flashing lights of the trucks and the colourful helmets, you would be surprised how much they remember from the lesson."

Emma says PORSE believes in the children building strong relationships with all community groups.

"Day to day you will see the kids playing games, running away from the 'baddies'."

She says that the aim of these lessons are to ensure the children can recognise who can help them in an emergency, "or who the goodies are".

Dion says the brigade loves to see children coming through the station, "it's all about teaching them key lessons about fire safety early on".

He says the main points of Wednesday's lesson were - not to play with lighters or matches; in a fire get out and stay out; and dial 111 in an emergency.