About 425 students from kindergarten through eighth grade had the exciting opportunity to board a real firetruck, check out fire hoses, and receive free firefighter hats during Fire Prevention Week at the Dr. Tanner G. Duckrey Public School in North Philadelphia on Monday.
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeff Thompson attended the event held at 1501 West Diamond St. He emphasized the importance of educating children about fire safety from a young age. “We just try to educate them. It starts when they are younger — and hopefully they will share that message with their friends and family and make themselves safer and make the entire community safer,” Thompson said. “They are going to go home and ask their parents to check the batteries in the smoke alarms and all of those things.”
Duckrey Principal David S. Cohen expressed pride in the students for beating some of the fastest school evacuation records during recent fire drills. Each year, the Philadelphia Fire Department selects a school to kick off Fire Prevention Week with a special assembly.
“They watched the fire drill, made sure all the doors were locked and the lights were turned off, examined the fire evacuation routes, and set the timer, ensuring everyone got out quickly,” Cohen explained. “Our time is a minute and 58 seconds, which is less than most schools.”
The event concluded with a celebration in the schoolyard, where students were informed about best practices for staying safe during fires.
Students received valuable safety tips, such as the importance of feeling the door to check for heat in case of a fire—signaling danger on the other side. “If possible, children should try to go to an open window and seek help,” Cohen advised.
Additionally, he highlighted the necessity of testing smoke alarms monthly by holding the test button for five seconds. Free smoke alarms are available from the Philadelphia Fire Department by calling 311. The department installs approximately 8,500 smoke alarms annually to enhance community safety.
“Every season is fire season, and fires are everyone’s fight!” said Philadelphia Fire Department Spokesperson Rachel Cunningham. She noted that in autumn and winter, the use of space heaters and fires for warmth presents obvious dangers. Throughout the rest of the year, fires can be sparked by activities such as cooking and grilling, discarding cigarette butts in dry and windy conditions, faulty electrical cords or wiring, and various other hazards.
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