Firefighters conclude week-long fire prevention efforts at Albion elementary

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Lauren Zwifka, a Barre firefighter and 2026 Albion graduate, helps Sebastian, an Albion fourth-grader, hit a target with water from a fire hose.

A group of volunteer firefighters wrapped up a week-long fire prevention effort at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School this week. After spending four days with classroom activities, firefighters joined students outside to learn about fire trucks and equipment, and test their fire prevention knowledge.

Barre firefighters Lauren Zwikfa and Barry Flansburg helped students aim at the targets.

Albion firefighters Victoria Tabor and Jeremy DiMatteo let these students get a close look at some of the tools and gear in a fire truck.

Ryan Woolston of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company let students hold a 20-pound air bottle that holds oxygen if firefighters go inside to fight a fire.

Students crawl through a smoke simulator inside a fire safety training trailer was outside the school today. That trailer, owned by the Orleans County’s Emergency Management Office, has a fog machine to simulate smoky rooms. Students were urged to “Stay Low and Go.” Students went through the smoke when the door inside the trailer wasn’t hot.

If the door inside the trailer was hot, students were told to instead look for a way out of the room. The electrical door could be heated to simulate a hot door from fire. Thomas Bringenberg climbs out the window and down a ladder. Albion firefighter Cody Newsome was there if any assistance was needed.

The fake flames are knocked down with water sprayed by Barre firefighter Gary Rowley, left, with second-grader Dylan Feitshans and Barry Flansburg with second-grader Danny Klips.