BY HANNAH SHARPE

Staff Writer

Students from Calvary Christian School learned about home fire safety at the Southern Pines Fire and Rescue Department Thursday.

Fire fighters explained the importance of having working smoke detectors and an emergency fire plan to students as a part of Fire Prevention Week, a national program offered by the National Fire Protection Association.

Students learned how to safely escape a burning house by watching an informational video and practicing a drill at the department.

Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal John Stone says the program often lasts more than a week for the department because of the "large audience" in town.

Stone says the department focuses its educational resources on young children and older adults--age groups that are most at-risk in an emergency.

Almost 2,000 students in kindergarten through sixth grade have participated in the program this month.

This year's slogan, "Beep, beep, beep. Smoke alarms: a sound you can live with," focuses on the importance of maintaining working smoking detectors in the home.

"Being able to get working smoke detectors in bedrooms and common areas as well as having a plan in place, is really a key to survival [from a house fire]," Stone said.

Students were also able to see fire trucks, learn about firefighting equipment and take a stab at operating a fire hose.

Contact Hannah Sharpe by e-mail at hannah@thepilot.com.