The Glastonbury Volunteer Fire Department , along with the Fire Marshall’s Office , were very busy last week – not with a large number fires ( thankfully ) but with presentations to the town’s children for Fire Prevention Week .

Among the many stops , the firstgraders at Hebron Avenue School got to tour one of the department’s fire trucks last Wednesday .

Deputy Fire Marshall Anthony Dignoti gave a presentation in the school’s driveway that included “ Stop , drop , and roll , ” and the importance of using 911 properly .

“ If you’rehome and yourhouse is on fire , ” Dignoti asked students , “ do youcall 911 , or do youget out ?”

“ You get out , ” the first-graders responded , correctly .

Lt . Michael Silvester of Company # 4 demonstrated clothing and equipment that firefighters typically wear , in order to get the children accustomed to what could be , for some , a scary-looking figure .

“ It’s really important that youdon’t hide on us , ” Silvester told the students , then proceeded to solicit high-fives from them .

“ If I come to yourhouse dressed like this , youaren’t going to be afraid of me , right , ” he said .

Dignoti said he had several stops during the week , including at many day care facilities .

“ We try to gear it to the age group , ” he said . “ First-graders understand a little more . At the day cares , they are usually 3 or 4 yearsold , so they just want to see and touch . They just crawl through the truck , so the education is a little less . ”

They also go home and tell their parents , which Dignoti said is the best part . Also interesting , he said , is that kids tell of minor fire-related incidents that were not reported . “ They tell the darned-est stories , ” he said . Dignoti said the educational efforts of the departments has paid off for the town over the years, particularly when it comes to juvenile arson . “ We have been pretty blessed in this community for fire-setting , ” he said . “ We have a very low rate , especially with kids . Some communities have problems . We’re out there talking with kids , and I think it has an effect . ”

Dignoti said that many firefighters who have children in the system like to volunteer for the demonstrations at their children’s schools , and that creates a conduit for neighborly connections between all of the fire personnel and the students .

“ It builds a sense of the community , too , ” he said . “[ The kids see that ] people are volunteering and working . It works out well . ”