Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12

By RICK BOSTON

Staff Writer

For Elizabeth Hoffman, fire prevention is a way of life.

A 32-year member of the Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company, Hoffman teaches fire safety and prevention at schools and organizations throughout the year.

On Friday, Spet. 27, Hoffman was at the Claysburg-Kimmel Elementary School teaching fire prevention and safety to grades pre-K through third.

"I have done all aspects of fire service," she said. "I believe the first step is fire prevention and it starts with the children."

This year marks Hoffman's 10th year of fire safety and prevention at the elementary school, and she said the kids are paying attention to what she says.

"We start the program in pre-K, and when we come back the following year those kids are in the next grade," she said. "I ask the same questions as the previous year and they know the answers. They are retaining what we teach them."

Hoffman said if a child remembers what they were taught the previous year, they carry that information every day.

"Not only do they retain the information year to year, but also day to day, and that can save their lives," she said.

While Hoffman goes to schools, events and businesses to teach fire safety and prevention, her lessons are shared anywhere an opportunity arises.

Hoffman and her family take a trip to Virginia Beach each year, and a chance encounter in a hotel elevator showed her that fire safety can be taught anywhere.

"A few years ago I was in an elevator in Virginia Beach," she said. "There were two little girls in there so I reached into my bag and pulled out two plastic firefighter helmets. As the elevator was moving, we talked about fire safety and prevention.

"The following year I'm in the same elevator and there is this dad with two little girls. Both the girls look up and smile and then the one girl said, 'I know you from last year. You taught me fire prevention in this elevator.' These girls not only remembered me, but they remembered the lesson."

Hoffman said an experience she had five years ago proved to her that what she is doing is making a difference.

"I was walking into the elementary school and there was a little girl standing beside the door. She said, 'Liz, my house caught on fire the other night. I did not see you there, I was looking for you.'"

Hoffman told the little girl that although she was not at the fire, her heart was with her.

Although Hoffman was not able to respond to that fire, the lessons she taught the little girl saved her life.

"The little girl started crying and said, 'I did not hide under the bed, I did what you told me, I got out.' She was saying everything that I teach them in my fire safety talks. This is why I do what I do," Hoffman said.

Besides fire safety and prevention, the Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company has also partnered with the Because We Care Foundation to provide a stuffed animal to children who are distraught and in need of comforting.

The company carries stuffed bulldogs with them to give to children who have been involved in an accident or other emergency situation.

"We got called to an accident on Interstate 99 for an overturned vehicle involving a mother and her child," Hoffman said. "The little girl was very upset so the first thing I did was grab a bulldog for her."

Hoffman's interactive approach to fire safety and prevention encourages the children to ask questions and seek out the answers.

"It's not just reading from a manual. It's teaching in a way that they will remember."

Hoffman has become known as the "fire lady" and she says that's OK with her, because it shows the kids are hearing what she says.

"I was standing in line at the grocery store and two little girls kept looking back at me," she said. "One of the girls looks up at me and says 'I know you, you are that fire lady who comes to our school.' It warms my heart because I know they associate me as the fire lady but they retain the knowledge I taught them."