DLA - Defense Logistics Agency

10/15/2024 | Press release | Archived content

DSCR Fire, Emergency Services engage community during national fire prevention week

RICHMOND, Va. -

Fire and Emergency Services personnel spread their message of fire safety and prevention throughout Defense Supply Center Richmond during National Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 6-12.

The week's events began with Sparky the Fire Dog and an installation fire inspector greeting employees as they entered the gates to DSCR on their way into work.

Assistant Fire Chief William Hock, who coordinated the Fire Prevention Week activities, said the goal was to promote this year's fire prevention theme of "Smoke alarms: Make them work for you" and raise fire safety awareness.

FES personnel - assigned to the Installation Management team at Defense Logistics Agency Aviation - visited the Aviation Operation Center cafeteria Oct. 9, to connect with employees and hand out promotional items with tips for fire prevention.

Lead Fire Inspector Evron Brightly said they tried to engage with as many people as possible.

"We love having opportunities to get out and talk to people," Brightly said. "We answered questions on a different array of topics on the minds of individuals."

National Fire Prevention Week culminated with an event for children at Station 23 on the installation. Children from the Child Development Center learned about fire safety, engaged with Sparky, sat in the crew seat of the fire truck, practiced evacuation techniques in an inflatable firehouse and joined firemen in spraying targets with a fire hose.

William Hock, assistant chief of technical services within FES said they bring the children to the firehouse every year so they can begin educating them early on fire safety.

"It's really just to start them off from an early age to teach them about fire prevention and not to be afraid of firefighters if they needed to escape from a fire," Hock said.

Hock said FES personnel impacted more than 1,000 people during the week's activities.

For more information on National Fire Prevention Week and this year's theme, visit NFPA Fire Prevention Week (FPW).