Fire department to kick-off event-filled Fire Prevention Week

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The 35th Fighter Squadron Fire Department will kick-off Fire Prevention Week, scheduled for Oct. 7 to 14, with a new event this year.

The Fire Muster will be held Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the commissary parking lot.

The Fire Muster will bring together participants from units around base, as well as off-base fire departments to compete in various events.

"Any unit can sponsor a team," said Master Sgt. Timothy Vickers, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department assistant chief of operations. "We are looking for teams of five people. Anyone can do it."

There is a $50 entrance fee per team. This fee includes lunch and goes toward the awards. As of Sept. 20, four teams have signed up. Registration remains open until Oct. 1.

Plaques will be given to the winners of the first three events. Those events are a bucket brigade, truck pull and hose joust.

A traveling trophy will be given to the winning team of the fourth event, the firefighter's confidence course. The confidence course consists of 5 relay competitions that simulate various tasks one would encounter on a fire round. They events are a hose carry, victim pull, water shooting, axe swinging and a hose hoist.

"Any organizations that have a team and want some tips or techniques to help them can call us at the fire department," said Sergeant Vickers. "We can set up some training, show them how to do things and let them practice."

In addition to the Fire Muster competitions, mascots will be out along with the fire department's smoke trailer and demonstrations such as an auto extraction. There will be various fire apparatus displays as well as a barbecue sponsored by the Misawa Firefighters Association.

"Our goal is to get a lot of people out there," said Sergeant Vickers. "There is plenty for the base populace to come out and see."

Throughout Fire Prevention Week, members of the fire department will be visiting classrooms around base talking to students about fire safety. Select classes will get to visit Fire Station 1 for a tour.

"Our goal is 100 percent contact with the children in the school," explained Sergeant Vickers.

While the school visits teach children of the importance of fire safety, the fire department would like the Fire Muster to remind the entire family about fire prevention.

"Sometimes when we teach fire prevention at the schools the children will go home and talk to their parents about it," said Sergeant Vickers. "But we think we can have more of a lasting impression if parents and children come out for the day. There will be more for them to see. Plus, they can come out and see what their fire department is doing."