Article Contributed on: 5/25/2009 9:38:47 PM
June 13, 2009 marks the
15th year of West Metro Fire Rescue's Family Fire Muster. This event, held the second Saturday each June, helps children and their families learn, practice, and play in an outdoor classroom environment.
The Family Fire Muster began as a simple parking lot show of fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles, at Carmody Recreation Center in June 1994. Back then, West Metro Fire Rescue hadn't even been born yet. Instead, the Lakewood-Bancroft Fire Authority was working on merging the two departments, a feat that occurred seven months later in 1995. The first Muster drew several hundred people to check out the fire trucks and hang with fire fighters. In 1997, the event's focus changed to begin incorporating learning into the event. Hands-on activities were included and now are the highlight of the event.
Each of the more than 15 hands-on activities gives children a chance to interact with fire fighters, while learning valuable life saving lessons. Children are given the chance to dress like fire fighters; stop, drop, and roll; crawl low under smoke; practice safe escape from a smoke-filled home; put on a life jacket and practice water safety; run through a forest with a wildland fire fighter to help put out a forest fire; and much more.
More than 20 emergency, health, and safety organizations will be on hand to help promote safety and well-being.
The 2009 Family Fire Muster will be held Saturday, June 13, from 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Red Rocks Community College's Lakewood Campus. For more information on this
FREE family fun for people of all ages, visit
www.westmetrofire.org or call 303-989-4307.