Children play and learn at fire expo

Cloudy skies and the threat of rain did not keep 150 children and their parents from enjoying a children’s safety expo held Saturday at the Village Green Park in Sisters.

Those attending learned safety tips, played games, won prizes and enjoyed free hot dogs and soft drinks.

At the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD) exhibit, children donned bright yellow rain jackets and helmets to test their skill in aiming water hoses to push balloons across a water tank.

In a smoke trailer provided by the Central Oregon Fire Prevention Cooperative, they entered rooms filled with artificial smoke and learned how to avoid fumes before exiting safely out a window. Bean bags were thrown throw at a “drown that campfire” target and Smokey Bear rings were tossed at a safety cone at the U. S. Forest Service exhibit.

Children were welcomed aboard the Black Butte Ranch ladder truck to test the siren and the bells. A real Sparky the Fire Dog was on hand to greet children and Smokey Bear made a late appearance.

Other agencies participating were the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Air Life of Oregon, Deschutes County 9-1-1, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and the American Red Cross.

Adults at each exhibit quizzed the children on their knowledge of fire safety and other emergency skills before presenting them with small prizes.

“A lot of the older kids were going through the events multiple times,” said Dave Wheeler, fire marshal for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. “All the events were well done and it went very well.”

Wheeler thanked Ray’s Food Place and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. for their donations of hot dogs and soda.