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