Kids get taste of being a firefighter
HARMONY — Crowds packed the borough fire station lot buying snacks and beverages while children learned the importance of fire safety, how to use a fire extinguisher and proper manners while playing in a bounce house.
The Harmony Fire District held its third annual open house, inviting the community to get to know the people behind the fire hose.
“This is our third annual open house,” said Fire District Lt. Scott George. “After our merger — the Zelienople and Harmony volunteer fire companies — we decided a joint venture community outreach, something like, this would be a great idea.”
Across the lot, fire district members taught visitors about the fire district while children toured fire trucks and learned to use a hose.“As you can see there's a lot of kids running around here now,” George said. “We have some activities for them. The Cranberry Township (Fire Department) is out here with their fire safety training trailer running the kids through that, we have a bounce house here, we also have face painting going on for the kids too.”Older attendees also had the chance to learn about fire safety as well as find out about opportunities to join the fire district.“We're always looking for new members,” George said. “We're an all-volunteer organization. No one here is paid for their time.”The fire district also offers at junior volunteer program for youths, age 14 to 17.Linda George came to the event for the first time with her family.“I think it's great. It's really educational,” she said. “It's wonderful how they teach the kids all about fires in their homes, how to call 911, what to do if there's smoke … it's all very wonderful for the community.”
