est Orange firefighters demonstrate what they would do in an extrication.
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Fire Department invited residents to Fire Headquarters on Sunday, Oct. 13, to allow the public to try firefighter gear and test equipment. The event celebrated Fire Prevention Week, and also showed off the department’s home base on Valley Road. Firefighters demonstrated how to extinguish a fire, how to use a hose and how they rescue someone who has been in a car crash.
“Even though we’re out in the community, they don’t always know what we do,” Chief Anthony Vecchio said in an interview with the West Orange Chronicle at the event. “We don’t always put water on fires.”
The fire department is called when there are emergencies that involve rescue. They are EMTs, and also teach fire prevention. During the week, firefighters went to West Orange’s elementary schools to work with students.
“We teach prevention because we’d rather the fires don’t start,” Vecchio said. “We used to do this in the library parking lot, but it’s better to do it here. People don’t usually come here. They prefer to come see where we work.”
Photos by Amanda Valentovic
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