CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In an effort to educate children about fire safety, West Virginia First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin helped firefighters kickoff the Read-Aloud campaign at Piedmont Elementary School in Charleston Monday.
Tomblin read the book “Sparky the Fire Dog” to a group of third grade students as part of Fire Prevention Week.
Throughout the week, firefighters will be visiting schools across West Virginia to read books about safety and to talk with students about fire prevention.
“Over the years, we’ve found that teaching people about safety, whether it be through the mobile safety house, coming in to speak to children or taking them to — as we are in Charleston, the safety city — that those things are remembered and they do carry them on for a lifetime,” said state Fire Marshal Ken Tyree.
The state Fire Marshal’s Office is providing fire departments and county schools with safety-themed books to read to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade.
“We just see it as an opportunity to help encourage the children to learn to read and read better,” said Tyree. “(We’re) making extra emphasis on the importance of smoke alarms, fire escape drills in your home, looking for unsafe situations within your home and to teach children that.”
Tyree told the students Monday that it’s important to develop a safety plan and to establish a meeting place outside for family members and friends if you need to exit the home.
Tomblin said in a news release, “It is my hope that this event will serve as a catalyst to help students to develop a love for reading, as well as a way to open dialogue with families about fire safety at home and school.”
Fire Prevention Week runs through Saturday.