By Nancy Bowman
The Tipp City Emergency Services Department has a new educational tool thanks to a grant through the Tipp City Foundation.
The Fire Safety House, also known as the “Smoke House,” was purchased with dollars from the Safety First Fund established at the foundation by the late Tipp City Fire Chief Steve Kessler.
The Smoke House was selected during a search to replace the department’s Fire Safety Trailer donated in 1999, said EMS Chief Cameron Haller.
“It was starting to show its age from wear and tear,” he said, noting the trailer also was experiencing leaks, which were becoming costly to repair.
A department member that also works at Troy’s Fire Department suggested Haller look at the inflatable safety Smoke House owned by the Troy department. “It was perfect. It is one level, is accessible by everybody. It runs off electric so we can set it up inside a (fire station) bay, if tall enough, in inclement weather,” Haller said.
As people walk through the house, it gives a verbal lesson and also has interactive elements of a question and answer system.
The trailer required visitors to bend and crawl and at one point was only three feet in height, somewhat limiting those who could use it.
Although the prime audience for the house is students in second through fourth grades, it is suitable for all ages, Haller said.
The Smoke House is accessible by wheelchairs.
Department member Doug Trent handled the application for funding through the Tipp City Foundation. The foundation committee liked the concept and approved the funding. The budget for the project was $6,500.
The first time the Smoke House was used was at the National Night Out events at Kyle Park in early August.
The house can be loaded into the back of a truck by a couple of people and transported where needed, Haller said. The project, Haller said, was cost effective and met Chief Kessler’s goal of safety for everyone.
The Smoke House is on hand for the upcoming Fire Prevention Month in October
Tipp City Fire and EMS will host an open house on Oct. 16, from 1-4 p.m. at the West Main Street fire station.
This year’s Fire Prevention Month theme is “Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape.”
The month gives the department another opportunity to remind people to have a fire escape plan for their home.
“Along with your plan, make sure everybody has working smoke detectors and to keep your door shut while you sleep,” Haller said. Having the door shut buys extra time in the middle of the night if someone is trying to wake up in response to a smoke alarm going off.