Archive: Around Town

Lansing Tiger Scouts toured Lansing Central Fire Station Saturday to learn about fire safety and how the fire department serves the community.  Scout Leaders Roger VandePoel and Katrina Overton brought scouts and parents to hear Chief Scott Purcell about fire trucks, equipment, and emergency medical response vehicles.


"Tiger Cubs visit something that protects the community," VandePoel says.  It may be a fire station, or in the past he says they have visited the County jail.  In this case it was the first graders' first visit to the fire house.  Most of the tour was in the big garage that houses fire trucks and other equipment.


Purcell started the tour by telling the kids about what fire fighters do, be he quickly moved to show them the equipment.  Chase Harper talked about what happens when the department responds to a medical emergency, showing the kids the kits that are stocked on an EMT vehicle.

The boys were most excited when they got to go on some of the fire engines.  Some explored the rear areas of the trucks while others sat in the driver's seat, imagining what it would be like to drive the big trucks to a fire.  Purcell opened many of the compartments on the side of the trucks to show the boys what equipment goes to a fire.  One compartment contained a chimney sweeping brush for cleaning up after a chimney fire.  The department's boat, stored on a trailer, was also a big hit.


The boys were also excited when Purcell let them try on fire fighter's equipment.  This gave them a sense of how heavy the equipment is, including the protective suit, boots, masks and hats.

Tigers are the youngest category of Cub Scouts.  They learn about family communications, preparing for emergencies, and learn about their environment.  In December they visited the Dewitt Historical Museum where they learned about rotary phones and pressure cookers, and how to properly handle old items to help preserve them.


Parents and Scout Leaders seemed to enjoy the tour almost as much as the kids did, exploring the big trucks and trying on fire hats.  

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