Neligh Firefighters Teach Students Importance Of Fire Safety

It’s Fire Safety Week and these Antelope County students get a new set of teachers for the day. They were allowed to hang out with firefighters and learn the basics of fire safety.

After being loaded onto the firetrucks, Neligh-Oakdale elementary students were given a tour of the Neligh Fire Hall on Thursday.

"We really enjoy doing this because anytime we can get in front of the children to express the importance of fire safety and what they can do at home with their family to reinforce having a safety plan at home is priceless," said Jason Krebs, First Captain with the Neligh Volunteer Fire Department.

Firefighters explained their equipment and how they respond to fire calls. Krebs said students were also encouraged to "nag their parents about changing the batteries in the smoke alarms."

"We like to spend this day having the firemen put on their bunker gear, put on air packs, so it eliminates the fear factor for the kids," he said. "At this age, there's always a tendency to be afraid of firemen and that's the last thing we want."

Once they wrapped up their tour, the kids get a little ride around town on the firetrucks before heading back to school.