Fire prevention takes new meaning

Letter from the editor

It was fire prevention week in area schools this week and students and firefighters alike got more of a lesson than they expected.

On Wednesday, kindergartners at Bigfork Elementary School learned what to do in case of a house fire – how to create an exit plan with their families, how to 'stop, drop and roll," and how to figure out it if there is fire waiting outside their doors. They also joined the first and second graders in touring emergency vehicles and learning about what it's like to be a firefighter.

But, their lessons weren't to be fully realized until Friday morning, when from their windows and playground they watched as a local family's home went up in flames.

This image became a painful reminder for some that these incidents are real and prevention and safety actions are not just fun activities to do to music in a classroom.

The Bigfork Volunteer Fire Department proceeded to demonstrate not just to the students they visited earlier in the week but to the whole community what they can do and the efforts they make when they are called. Volunteer firefighters worked the scene from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., only to get another call immediately after. Despite this, they still took the time to participate in the Homecoming parade and to present the colors at the football game that night.

Their efforts did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

-Jasmine Linabary