Fight Fire With Fire: RFD Holds Fire Prevention Event

You'd be hard-pressed to find an open house showing that featured car and kitchen fires, extrications, men repelling from towers, or dogs on unicycles – and you probably wouldn't want to live there, either. Yet that's just what took place on Sunday at the Ridgewood Fire Department's headquarters on E. Glen, all in the name of fire safety.

Firefighters demonstrated how to put out a car fire, perform an extrication after a car crash and repel down a tower. It may be standard fare for the men of the Ridgewood Fire Department, but it was met with awe by the over 40 children in attendance. After being treated to donuts and cider, the youth explored fire trucks and EMS trucks.

"It's educational to let people see the fire house, the firemen, to know what we do," said Fire Chief Jim Van Goor. "Throughout the whole month we go to the schools, have the schools bring the kids here and we educate them on the safety in the house, what to look for and do if there's a fire in the house."

Van Goor stressed families should have an escape plan and make sure there are batteries in the smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide detectors.

"We had a great turnout, it's a great day and I hope more people come out next year," Van Goor said.