On Saturday April 26, 2008, the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company held a program for local Boy Scouts to assist them with earning their Fire Safety Merit Badge. The event was held at the Tariffville Station and led by Chief Patrick Tourville and Firefighter Joe Barrett, with the assistance of Lieutenant Adam Libros and Firefighters JT Huber & Jason Loftus, and Junior Firefighter Sean Barrett.

The program began with a classroom discussion on topics such as the fire tetrahedron and products of combustion, common fire causes including seasonal fires and how to prevent them, and the role of human behavior related to arson. The Scouts then divided into groups to participate in several hands-on stations where they had to safely demonstrate lighting a match and starting a charcoal fire, using a camp stove and lantern, refueling a lawnmower and properly using a fire extinguisher, just to name a few. The Scouts were also given home assignments such as checking their smoke detectors and creating a home fire safety escape plan and practicing it.

Chief Patrick Tourville discusses the many different types of extinguishers and how to properly use them.

Scout Cole Starrett successfully extinguishes a simulated cooking fire.

Chris Mangine works a hose line under the watchful eye of Firefighter Joe Barrett.

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Chief Patrick Tourville discusses the many different types of extinguishers and how to properly use them.

 

Photographs by Cliff Williams