Members of the Neptune Volunteer Fire Company visited Tyrone Area High School and worked with the Tyrone Area FFA chapter to educate TAHS students on fire safety and firefighting on March 17.

TAHS students from the health tech, agricultural education, carpentry, and tech education/metal shop programs learned basic fire safety, the proper use of fire extinguishers using an electronic fire extinguisher simulator, and were given demonstrations of many tools that firefighters use on the scene of accidents and fires.

Tyrone senior and Neptune junior firefighter Rayannn Walls spent the day teaching students about scene tools such as the hydraulic rescue tool, firefighter breathing apparatus, the LUNAR thermal imaging devices used to find fire, and various other firefighting gear.

“I was surprised how much weight that [firefighters] carry for just for one call,” said FFA member Tristan Conterras.

Students were able to fight the digital fire using the laser-driven infrared extinguisher.

The fire extinguisher simulator unit uses hundreds of LEDs to generate digital flames. The system responds by increasing or decreasing the size of the flames in the area the user is targeting, relative to the user’s technique and efforts.

“The fire extinguisher simulator was cool to use, and seeing all the other equipment the fire companies use was very interesting,” said carpentry student Brandon Chirdon.

The program reached more than 150 Tyrone students in grades 9-12.

“We hope the education will stick in your minds through the years and help in any situation in your home,” said Neptune Fire Company Assistant Chief Chris Cherry.

The Tyrone Area FFA Chapter conducted this program as a trial run and hopes to expand it and engage more students in the future.

“The fire presentation was really cool and helped me learn a lot. Learning all the parts and how to use a fire extinguisher was really cool too,” said health tech student Rilee Walk

“I feel better educated on how to handle fire,” added health tech student Madelyn Rockwell.
The FFA would like to thank Neptune firefighters Garin Hoy, Skylar Whitchley, and Rayann Walls, as well as the Hollidaysburg Phoenix Fire Department, Station 10, for loaning the fire extinguisher simulator.