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By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

HELENA – As part of the Helena Library’s Summer Reading program, children and their parents had the chance to visit the Helena Fire Department for an open house.

The visitors were taught about fire safety and all of the emergency services the Fire Department can provide. They also got to tour the firehouse, see all of the equipment used by the firefighters and even got to sit in the firetruck.

“The citizens of Helena always look forward to the program the Fire Department provides each year,” Library Director Dan Dearing said. “(Knowing) fire safety and what to do in an emergency is crucial to having a safe community, and we appreciate the efforts these first responders make to assist with education. The library staff also enjoys the fire and police programs, because it offers a neat opportunity to present an event featuring our fellow city workers.”

Interacting with and educating Helena’s youth on what to do in an emergency is one of Fire Chief Chris Miller’s top priorities. Teaching these lessons to younger children can make a difference in the future, as they will be better equipped to handle a situation if it were to occur.

“The earlier they begin learning it, the better,” Miller said. “Even adults can feel intimidated in an emergency, so we want these lessons to become second nature for children. That way, if they’re ever faced with an emergency, they’ll know to call 911 without hesitation.”

Collaborating with the library gives the Fire Department a golden opportunity to build relationships with the community’s youth and invest knowledge into the next generation.

“Working with organizations like the library helps us reach children and other targeted groups more effectively,” firefighter and medic J.R. Spitzer said. “Events like these allow us to fine-tune our message for specific audiences and bring everyone together at once.”

Helena’s effort to make sure kids are aware of how to handle emergencies and know when and how to contact first responders shows an initiative for the community to be as safe a place as possible.

“It shows that Helena is a mission-focused community that cares about both the present and the future,” Spitzer said. “The fire department’s mission is to protect life and property, mitigate emergencies and prevent incidents. Our collaboration with other organizations reflects that shared commitment. Together, we’re working to build a safer community for all generations.”

While there were multiple lessons for the visitors to learn at the open house, there is one that stands out to Spitzer above the others.

“The most important lesson is for kids to understand the purpose of the fire department and other first responders—that we’re here to help,” Spitzer said. “We want them to recognize when there’s an emergency and to feel confident calling for help, even in stressful situations.”

While the open house was fun for the kids and their parents, the firefighters had a good time putting on the event. Showing off the firehouse, explaining how everything works and getting to visit with Helena’s youth is fulfilling for the department.

“We love having kids visit the station to learn about what we do and how we do it,” Spitzer said. “They get to see the fire trucks and equipment up close, which can seem intimidating at first. But by introducing them to these tools in a positive, educational setting, they learn that these things are here to help them and that there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

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