MONROE, CT — The Monroe Volunteer Fire Department can’t host its annual open house and its firefighters won’t be visiting schools to talk to children about fire safety and prevention for the first time in 50 years, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the fire company found another way to connect with townspeople during National Fire Prevention Week.
“To still get our message across in an innovative way, we will be releasing a series of videos with fire prevention and safety tips each day this week, featuring about a dozen of our volunteer firefighters,” Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Catalano said Monday. “These videos are aimed at adults and older children and the messages are tailored to the local community based on our experience.”
The videos, which were created, filmed and edited by town firefighters, will be shared on the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department, No. 1 Inc. Facebook page. The first video was posted today (Monday).
“We spent a lot of time and enjoyed making the videos, and we hope the community will watch them,” Catalano said.
Aside from visiting the schools during Fire Prevention Week, firefighters have taught fire safety and prevention to children at the MVFD’s annual open house. Children could meet firefighters, see live demonstrations, sit in a fire truck for photos and tour the firehouse.
But the open house was canceled for the first time in over 30 years. Firefighters will try to give children a virtual experience this year.
“We made and are editing a video directed toward younger children, where we give them a virtual tour of the fire engine and all the equipment we carry,” Catalano said. “That should be released later next week.”
Here is the firefighters’ first video:
