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Fire Volunteers To Open Their Doors

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2007

VALRICO - A recent string of Hillsborough County school bus accidents requiring emergency rescue response prompted the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department to dedicate its annual open house to children this year.

Family-friendly offerings planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday include free lunch, entertainment and educational displays, as well as free fingerprint photo ID cards. Families will get a chance to pet a Dalmatian or try on a firefighter's boots, but much of the action will center on dramatic rescue simulations and safety demonstrations.

After two buses collided Sept. 21 in the parking lot of Frost Elementary School in Riverview, 'we were really inspired to focus on kids this year,' said department Senior Capt. Jackie Smith. 'We want to show the community that we are prepared for these types of accidents.'

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews will stage a school bus crash scene and rescue simulation on Bloomingdale's Station 27 grounds at 4705 E. Bloomingdale Ave.

Crews will use Jaws of Life extrication equipment to cut through the vehicles during the simulated rescue. In addition, a mobile home at the site will be filled with simulated smoke, and firefighters will show children and adults how to crawl safely through the structure to escape.

For information, call (813) 744-5906 or go to www.station27.com.

Laura Frazier

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