Maui Fire Prevention Demonstration, Nov. 29

By Wendy Osher

The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety hosts a Fire Safety and Services demonstration on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Keōpūolani Park Horseshoe Field in Kahului.

The event is part of the annual observance of Fire Prevention Week in Maui County.  Each year the department hosts the demonstration for school children and the public that includes equipment displays, firefighting, the “JAWS of Life” and ladder demonstrations, as well as education on fire prevention tips.

Maui Fire Safety Demonstration. Photos courtesy County of Maui.

This year’s event also includes rappelling, viewing of the department’s Air-1 helicopter, and appearances from Sparky Dog and Smokey Bear.

It is part of an effort to build fire safety awareness education and show the public the department’s emergency response capabilities.

After the show participants are invited to stick around for a “shower” as Ladder 14 from Wailea utilizes the truck’s firefighting hoses to douse the audience.

Fire officials say an estimated 600 children, parents and teachers attended last year’s demonstration.

The 2014 Fire Prevention Week theme is “Smoke Alarms: Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives!”

It’s a call to all, to once again install, test and maintain smoke alarms and detectors in homes because of their effectiveness in providing an early warning in residential fires.

Department officials remind the public to replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or immediately replace any smoke alarm that does not respond properly when tested.

Live burn demonstration by the Department of Fire and Public Safety. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

Fire safety demonstration of Hazmat operations. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

Maui’s Air 1 helicopter. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

Live burn demonstration by the Department of Fire and Public Safety. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

Maui fire fighters demonstrate how they remove a car rooftop to extract crash victims. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

Fire fighters teach kids how to stop, drop and roll. Photo courtesy County of Maui.