In
2006, the Hamlin Township Fire Prevention Unit
visited local schools, participated in Safety Town,
community parades and presented to community groups
to boost awareness about the importance of fire
safety, injury prevention and severe weather
awareness.
Fire
Prevention Week 2006, gave the Fire Prevention Unit
the opportunity to present their programs to Pre-K
through eighth graders at Northwestern, Union Street
Elementary Schools, Island City Academy and St.
Peter’s School. Humpty Dumpty Daycare, home-schooled
students, scout groups and other community groups
also were involved in fire prevention presentations.
The programs were structured so that the presenters
worked with classroom groups. This gave the
presenters a chance to involve the children in their
own safety awareness and help make fire safety a
group/family affair. The Fire Prevention Unit left a
lasting impression on the educators, faculty, parents
and children that were involved.
Hamlin
Township Fire Prevention Unit held an Open House at
the Fire Department bringing Fire Prevention Week
activities to a close and encouraged our community
residents to get involved in fire safety and
awareness, learning about escape plans, smoke
detectors and other fire safety tips. This year’s
open house also included an extrication
demonstration, Eaton County “911” operators, Eaton
County Sheriff Department detective unit (finger
printing), Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC)
demonstration, fire trucks on display, live smoke
house (smoke detector use), hose spraying with the
new addition to our training house front and many new
additions to our free foods available to all visiting
guest.
The
school presentations and other events reached about
3000 children and adults. This is an increase from
2005 by about 900. The additional newspaper coverage
and Open House heightened the awareness of Fire
Safety, injury prevention and severe weather
awareness education in our community.
During 2006, our Severe Weather Awareness programs
continued to expand. As part of this program NOAA
Weather Radios have continued to be presented as an
important tool in severe weather safety. We have
noted an increase in the knowledge of severe weather
preparedness and the use of NOAA weather radios by
senior citizens and families in communities that do
not have early warning devices.
The Hamlin Township Firefighter’s Association
collected monetary donations from its members to
sponsor three Hamlin Township families in need this
Christmas 2006. A special thanks to other anonymous
monetary sponsors, who helped out this Christmas. The
Fire Prevention Unit went to work in May contacting
local stores, writing for discount certificates and
collecting material items (boxes, wrapping paper,
tape). Christmas 2006 for five children was a dream
come true.
This
year’s Fire Prevention, Safety and Severe Weather
Awareness programs were successful due to the
cooperation of our local schools and the unrivaled
commitment of the Fire Prevention team of fire
fighters Darlene Smith, Larry Janz, technical support
of Rusty Hiither and the continued support and trust
Chief Chuck Hendrickson has in us to do a job well.
Thanks to the generosity of Hamlin Township, our Fire
Prevention, Safety and Severe Weather Awareness
programs and activities were available to our
community again this year.
The
Hamlin Township Fire Prevention Unit submitted an
application for funding through the Assistance to
Firefighters Grant Program 2006 which is pending. In
December 2006 we were awarded a grant by Michigan
Department of Natural Resources to help fund our Jr.
Forest Ranger program. (Campaign starts: February
2007).
We believe we have a duty to be involved in the
community we service. Our responsibility is to
protect life, property, and the environment. We are
committed to fulfilling our responsibility and to
deepening our involvement in the community we serve.
No request or inquiry will go unanswered.
We
recognize and understand that the constancy of change
in our community impacts us daily. We are committed
to seeking out and implementing innovative and
progressive thinking to address change effectively to
benefit those we serve.
The
Fire Prevention Unit is committed to Public Service
Excellence. Every effort is made to continually
promote and deliver quality programs and services. A
conscious effort is made to schedule programs and
services within our community and surrounding areas.
To fairly balance program development and delivery,
the competing needs and priorities of our community,
an annual in depth evaluation is conducted.
The
Fire Prevention Unit’s goal is to provide a proactive
response to fire safety, injury prevention and severe
weather awareness programs through education. As a
unit, we believe that fire is a costly but
preventable tragedy that can be defeated by providing
quality educational programs.
Respectfully
submitted,
Darlene L. Smith
Fire Prevention Coordinator