CRANBERRY TWP — Becket Alexander's heart skipped a beat.

As smoke filled the bedroom and the smoke detector rang, the Rowan Elementary School third-grader crawled out the window.

“I was scared,” said 8-year-old Becket.

In the event of a fire, she said the simulated demonstration prepared her to escape.

“Don't breathe in the smoke,” Becket said.

Firefighters from Cranberry Township visited students at Roman Elementary School earlier in October as part of National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6 to Oct. 12, to teach them about fire safety, emergency procedures and the role of the fire department.

In addition to escape procedures, third-grader Mia Fleck learned that people should have candles with a protective case.

“It was fun,” said Mia, 8, about the lessons. “I learned how to get out of a fire.”

National Fire Prevention Week falls on the anniversary of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, said Chris De Cree, fire safety education coordinator with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company.

Despite the week designated for fire safety education, October is booked solid with programming, he said.

Since 1993, the company has conducted fire safety programs. Typically, the company presents about 100 events annually with props and specialized equipment to train and educate the community. It also offers about 10 programs for different groups from preschoolers to seniors.

This year, the fire company was awarded first place regionally for its fire safety education programs by the Western Pennsylvania Fireman's Association and first place statewide by the Fireman's Association for the State of Pennsylvania.During the week, about 1,000 students go through the department's fire safety house, De Cree said.Inside the 35-foot long mobile fire safety house is stadium seating and a kitchen complete with a stove, sink, television, microwave and other household objects and a bedroom area.De Cree explains to students that heat, fuel and oxygen are the three elements that make a fire.One item they show students to demonstrate safety hazards is a plastic bowl that melted to the countertop during a real fire that occurred years ago.Children have to learn their phone number and house number, he said.“Fire spreads at 2½ feet per second,” De Cree said. “They have to get out.”Teaching methods have adjusted the “get out, stay out” method, said Jack Carney, assistant fire safety education coordinator,

“Fires have changed because of the synthetic material you have in homes,” he said. “Years ago where you'd have 15 to 17 minutes to get out of the house, now you have minutes.”In the front of the unit, students are taught about kitchen hazards and what makes a fire.“Hopefully the kids know what to do at that time,” he said.Carney enjoys the hands-on approach as students experience simulated smoke, getting out a window and dialing 911.Prior to his eight years with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company,, Carney was an active firefighter for 40 years in Robinson Township.Carney, who also taught elementary school across the street from his fire station for 41 years, teaches fire safety at the kindergarten level.He starts with lessons on dog safety and also includes lessons on helmets, flotation devices and seat belts, he said,According to Carney, “Get out, stay out” is the No. 1 tip for elementary-age students.“Don't go back in for your dog, cat, pillow pal,” he said. “Once you're out, go to your meeting place.”

Mia Fleck, third grader in Miss King's class, climbs out of a window during an emergency training session at Rowan Elementary.

Landon Shields practices making an emergency call. He's a third-grader in Christina King's class.

Raymond Brannon, third grader in Miss King's class, practices climbing out of a window during a recent emergency training session.