Canada Day debut for "Fire House"

Wilma Kenny | Jul 05, 2017

South Frontenac’s enormous new “fire house” made its first appearance at Gerald Ball Park in Sunbury on Canada Day. This inflatable play structure is not a bouncy castle, but a means of helping teach fire safety to children. It’s based in the theory that no child is too young to begin learning awareness of fire hazards. Inside, there are three rooms: a kitchen, a living room, and the treat at the end, a ramp up to a window to jump out of.

The ‘house' is wheelchair accessible. Inside each of the main rooms, there are posters and firemen to explain some of the basic fire safety information related to potential household fire hazards: cooking, candles, fireplaces and cook stoves. They also explain proper use of fire extinguishers: one is prominently displayed in the ‘kitchen’.

This is the only structure of its kind east of Whitby, and will be available for display at local festivals and other outdoor events. Only four firefighters are necessary to set it up and operate it.

The bright red house came from the States, and cost over $10,000 US. Storrington Firefighters Association came up with the idea and raised most of the money, helped by donations from the Perth Road Firemen's Association and Kingston Association No2 (Glenburnie.) Firefighter Suzanne Quenneville, who took me through the house, and who did the bookkeeping for the project, said the fluctuating Canada/US exchange rates gave her some sleepless nights between making the down payment, and the final payment when the custom-built structure was ready for delivery.