KFD shows off new mobile teaching aid
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

Michael Stanley, fire prevention officer, (right) helps Ardesia Sibley, 9, go through a fire safety drill of going low through smoke. This is just one of many functions the new fire safety unit has to offer. Ardesia is the daughter of Erica and Butler Sibley of Kilgore.

Kilgore Fire Department was at city park this weekend to show off their new mobile fire house/command center as part of a fund raiser for The American Cancer Society.

Michael Stanley, fire prevention officer for Kilgore Fire Department, said the mobile fire house is used for multitude of things in fire prevention and can double as a command center in the case of a fire or police emergency.

The mobile unit is designed to simulate a fire to teach children about stop, drop and roll to stay under smoke. The building has a special telephone to teach them about 911 calls, it has a simulated stove to teach cooking safety, a heated door to teach about exiting a fire and even a weather simulation for being in a storm.

The mobile unit was purchased with federal grants at a cost of approximately $50,000 and will be used at schools and community events such as the one held this last weekend according to Stanley.

It takes a minimum of three firefighters to operate the mobile unit, said Stanley.

When not being used for fire safety training, the mobile unit is wired for telephones, Internet and radios to used as a mobile command center for police or fire said Stanley.

Stanley said the mobile unit is a great educational tool and can teach classes of up to about 15 to 20 people at a time.