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Fire Safety Day held at Home Depot

By Billie Dunn

CATSKILL — Fire trucks lined the Home Depot parking lot Saturday for Greene County’s annual Fire Safety Day.

October is National Fire Prevention Month, and Home Depot has hosted the one-day event since coming to the area four years ago.

“Fire safety is so important,” said store manager Alex Marra. “Hosting Fire Safety Day is a good way for us to give back to those who help us in times of need.”

In addition to hosting their outdoor children’s workshop, Home Depot held indoor clinics educating adults on fire safety, and all fire safety merchandise was discounted 10 percent on Saturday.

Fire trucks and personnel from Leeds, the Town of Coxsackie, and Catskill attended the event, along with EMS agencies from the Town of Coxsackie, the Town of Catskill, and Greene County. The Greene County Sheriff’s Department and the New York State Police were also present.

“Educating the public is so important,” said Catskill EMT Scott Sudds. “We work side-by-side with with our local fire departments.”

“It makes our jobs easier,” added Matt Leibowitz, captain of the Town of Catskill Ambulance. Leibowitz says that education is is particularly important this time of year, when people are indoors, using fireplaces and other methods of heating their homes.

The Sheriff’s Department was conducting car seat checks, and the Greene County Hazardous Material Team hosted a smoke house demonstration. The Ladies Auxiliary of the Leeds Fire Department raffled quilts, with proceeds going towards children’s programs, and the Coxsackie Fire Department was accompanied by Sparky the Fire Safety Dog.

Sparky has been teaching fire safety to children for nearly a decade, and he will be tagging along this week as the Coxsackie Fire Department visits various locations throughout the community, raising awareness.

The department plans to conclude their fire safety awareness week on Oct. 12 at an awareness open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mansion/Bailey Street firehouse.

Personnel from local fire, EMS, and police agencies will attend the event, and there will be raffles, giveaways and handouts. There will be demonstrations, and emergency vehicle tours, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Fire Safety Day only happens once a year in Greene County, but emergency personnel urge residents to practice fire safety every day.

“Public education is the most important thing we can do,” said Leeds Fire Department’s first assistant chief Doug Lamnick. “After all, fire education saves lives.”

To reach reporter Billie Dunn, please call 518-943-2100 ext. 3323 or e-mail bdunn@thedailymail.net

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