(BEDFORD) – The Bedford Fire Department has always taken the time to educate children and the public with fire prevention programs.
Through the years firefighters have worked with local schools to bring interactive fire programs to teach children how to prevent fires and how to escape their home if there is a fire.
Whether that was Dugan the Dummy back in the 1980s, or Sparky the Fire Dog, the fire department used many inventive ways to teach fire prevention.
This year, the fire department agreed there will be no in-person fire prevention program after discussing the topic with North Lawrence Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Ty Mungle.
“We will miss doing the program this year, but for the safety of the children due to COVID- 19 we just thought it best not to do the fire prevention program in-person this year,” said Bedford Fire Department Chief John Hughes.
The fire prevention program allows the children to impart the knowledge they learn, and take it home and share what they learned with family members.
“I’ve been in public and a person would come up to me and let me know about the things their child pointed out from our programs. This allows me to know that our programs do work,” said Chief Hughes.
“We try to do fire prevention programs all year, going to preschools and daycare centers and with the general public,” Chief Hughes added. “For anyone wishing for us to put on a program, we are willing to do so. “
Fire prevention and fire codes over the years have reduced the amount of fires the Bedford Fire Department responds to.
The Bedford Fire Department averages between 600-700 calls a year, which mainly are extrication calls throughout Lawrence County.
The Bedford Fire Department began in December of 1879. There are three fire stations in Bedford. Currently there are 37 paid firefighters over three shifts of 9-12 personnel depending on the shift.
Bedford Fire Department also has a fire training and inspection program.
Firefighters usually spend two hours on training every Tuesday and Thursday with Training Officer Brent Allen.
All new firefighters who join the department are trained on each engine. They learn how to drive it, operate the pumps, and where to locate every piece of equipment on the truck.
The department conducts fire training on emergency medical calls on Fridays. The department responds to emergency medical assistance calls when requested or when no ambulance is available in the city.
“I am very proud of the dedicated men we have on our fire department, who are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty – day and night – for those who are needing our assistance,” said Hughes.
National Fire Prevention Week started on Sunday, with a memorial service at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
This year’s fire prevention program is focused on kitchen fires.
Anyone with any questions can always call the department’s non-emergency number at 812-275-4445.
We like to thank the Bedford Firefighters for their service to the community:
| JOHN HUGHES | FIRE CHIEF |
| BRENT ALLEN | TRAINING OFFICER |
| JASON STIGALL | FIRE INSPECTOR |
| BATTALION #1 | |
| DEWAYNE TURPEN | BATTALION CHIEF |
| NEIL RILEY | CAPTAIN |
| JEREMY HOLSAPPLE | LIEUTENANT |
| JEFF ARMSTRONG | LIEUTENANT |
| LUKE PINNICK | FIREFIGHTER |
| SHANE NOLAN | FIREFIGHTER |
| DANE FOUNTAIN | FIREFIGHTER |
| ISAAC CRANE | FIREFIGHTER |
| MATT WRONOWICZ | FIREFIGHTER |
| JOSHUA DOWNING | FIREFIGHTER |
| DAVID RICHARDS | FIREFIGHTER |
| BATTALION #2 | |
| KEN TUMEY | BATTALION CHIEF |
| JIM ELKINS | CAPTAIN |
| JEFF KEY | LIEUTENANT |
| JEFF HOLMES | LIEUTENANT |
| BRAD CUMMINGS | FIREFIGHTER |
| JUSTIN SPIRES | FIREFIGHTER |
| JEREMY NOLAN | FIREFIGHTER |
| TOBY TINCHER | FIREFIGHTER |
| LEYTON CRAIG | FIREFIGHTER |
| JOHN PORTER | FIREFIGHTER |
| LEVI CLARK | FIREFIGHTER |
| JOSHUA FOWLER | FIREFIGHTER |
| BATTALION #3 | |
| JAY FAUBION | BATTALION CHIEF |
| BRUCE DECKARD | CAPTAIN |
| DAVID WRIGHT | LIEUTENANT |
| ZACHARY ZOLLER | LIEUTENANT |
| RONNIE PRINCE | FIREFIGHTER |
| DAVID ZEEKS | FIREFIGHTER |
| BRADY RHODA | FIREFIGHTER |
| ANDREW ROBERTS | FIREFIGHTER |
| BRYAN OSBORNE | FIREFIGHTER |
| DAVID KIRTS | FIREFIGHTER |
| JOSEPH CHASTAIN | FIREFIGHTER |
