VIDEO: Interim Chief Chad Longstaff visited Eye on NE Kansas with Lt. Zachary Bradford and Jasmin Ramirez, who is a firefighter paramedic with Lawrence Fire Department. Longstaff said the department is spreading awareness about fire safety during this Fire Prevention Week. They started last Saturday, with the first in a monthly series of open houses at their stations.
It will culminate Saturday, Oct. 11 with the second annual Explorer Games. Ramirez and Bradford, who are married, lead the youth Explorer programs for their respective agencies. The games will pit the two groups against each other in a variety of competitions, including gear drills, forcible entry, search and rescue, relay races, and โhose bowling,โ where they unroll their fire hoses to knock over pins.
The competition if a fun way to showcase skills that have real-life use at a fire scene. The 2nd annual Explorer Games run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at the TFD Training Center, 324 SE Jefferson. The public is invited to watch the competition, and share refreshments following the trophy ceremony.
Longstaff said the station open houses are another way people can learn about the fire service and meet their neighborhood firefighters in a casual setting. Longstaff also shared results of the TFDโs recent Fill the Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. IAFF Local 83 last held the fundraising drive in 2019, and brought it back this year. Firefighters set up at intersections throughout the community over Labor Day weekend, inviting people to drop donations into their fire boots. Longstaff said the campaign collected more than $40,000 for MDA.
