This fall and in the years ahead, Rupert teenager and Poultney High School sophomore Gabe Casey looks forward to playing in the Vermont High School State Football Postseason games. But on a recent Wednesday, there was only one place he wanted to be: At the Mettawee Community School (MCS) for Fire Safety Day.
At this annual event, every student from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th Grade participates in a discussion about home fire safety and receives a guided tour of the latest in fire equipment protecting the families of Pawlet and Rupert.
Casey graduated from the Vermont Fire Academy last summer and is currently a junior member of the Rupert Fire Department. He’s too young to drive a fire truck and at his age, not allowed to enter a burning building, but he’s still part of the working fire team and knows his way around all the equipment.
“I come from a family of firemen,” said Casey. “It seems like everyone in my family, including my Dad, was a fireman. I practically grew up at the Rupert Firehouse and I love coming back to my elementary school to teach the kids about fire safety.”
Casey received high marks from one of his former instructors. “I’m so excited watching Gabe work with the kids today,” said Stephanie Pierce, who was his first grade teacher and still serves in that capacity at MCS. “He really knows his material. Gabe’s doing great!”
Casey wasn’t the only MCS alum returning to the old school as a volunteer fireman. Ronnie Taylor III, Morgan Hosley, and Andrew Chila were all part of the team that showcased the working intricacies of local fire equipment, including the unveiling of Pawlet's brand new custom-designed fire truck delivered the week of Fire Safety Day.
One main feature of the new vehicle is how all the components have been packaged. Every tool, gage and piece of fire-fighting equipment is housed to maximize space. As a result, the new truck is a few feet shorter than the older models, which is a plus in rural Vermont. It allows for easier maneuverability and navigation through all the twisting back roads and driveways of Pawlet and Rupert.
“It’s a purpose-built vehicle with all the latest fire-fighting technology,” added Chila. “The truck took over three years to design and assemble, but is expected to last nearly 20 years. It was well worth the wait.”
As the fireman explained all the working parts of the tools, gadgets, gages, and protective clothing the awed young listeners had loads of questions, comments and advice:
One girl, for example, urged the fire fighters to be careful they don’t get glass “slivers” if they have to break windows to get into a burning house.
When one boy heard firefighters had LED “lightsabers” to direct traffic, he asked an obvious question, “Do you know Luke Skywalker?”
One student pleaded with the firefighters to be particularly thoughtful about putting out a stove fire if the dish being prepared was macaroni and cheese. “Save as much as you can because it’s the greatest food in the universe.”
On Fire Safety Day the students rotated between two stations: outdoors to explore the trucks and firefighting equipment and inside for a presentation on home safety in the school gymnasium.
"Go home and ask your parents to test all the home fire alarms to make sure they are working," said Pawlet Volunteer Fire Chief Jonathon Weiss. "Make sure you and your family recognize the sound of your alert to evacuate the house."
Other priorities: Students were advised to make certain their family had decided that in the event of a fire, they would have a designated spot to meet outside their home. That way they could answer a firefighter’s first question, “Is everyone accounted for?”
Finally, the kids were urged to memorize their home address. They must be prepared so if there is ever a need to call 911 to report a fire, they could answer the dispatcher’s most important question. That way the fighters could jump quickly in their trucks knowing where they were headed.
“This is one of my favorite days of the school year,” said MCS Principal Brooke DeBonis. “The kids learn important information about fire safety that they can share with their families and it’s great to see the connection between students and our local fire departments from Pawlet, West Pawlet, and Rupert. The kids are totally energized.”
And maybe some of those students will come back to Mettawee some day in the future as volunteers to discuss fire safety … Just like Ronnie Taylor III, Morgan Hosley, Andrew Chila, and young Gabe Casey.
Gabe Casey, returning Mettawee grad and current volunteer junior member of the Rupert Fire Department, shows Mettawee students one of the fire fighting tools.
Chief of the Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department, Jonathon Weis (left), leads a discussion of home fire safety with Mettawee students.