As National Fire Prevention Week comes to an end, the members of the Potsdam Fire Department would like to take a minute to recap what the they have been up to this past week.

During fire prevention week members are always busy throughout the week conducting tours at the firehouse. This year the members spent time with over 440 children within our community! The members interacted with Potsdam Central School Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade programs along with three local daycare facilities and one large group of homeschooled children.

The children watched a 10 minute video on the ABC’s of fire safety, interacted with a firefighter who donned all of their turnout gear, and viewed all the different equipment that firefighters carry on the firetrucks. The children were sent home with a fire safety calendar for the year and a few other fire safety materials.

The Potsdam Fire Department would like to remindl parents to take the time to sit down with your child and go over the fire safety calendar each month, test your smoke detectors in your home monthly, and practice your fire escape plan on a regular basis.

Fire Prevention Week is also when members of the Potsdam Fire Department visit all the homes in the Potsdam Fire response area to conduct their Annual Fund Drive. Members distribute a brochure with a self-addressed envelope requesting information about any hazards present at that address or any individuals with special needs at that location, as well as an appeal for a donation to help support the operations of the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department.

Unfortunately, each year we find it necessary to replace equipment that has become damaged during emergency operations or is outdated due to the constant changes of the NFPA Standards. The cost of this equipment continues to rise every year. For instance, a nozzle now costs nearly $1,000.00 and we must have several of these to adequately equip our apparatus. An airpack, used to enter hazardous atmospheres, is in excess of $8,000. Our firefighters work hard to keep our equipment ready to respond at a moment’s notice to provide our residents with the quality fire protection they deserve. Money received from donations will be used to support the increasing costs of operating the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department. This includes the upkeep on the fire apparatus owned by the volunteers as well as insurance, equipment maintenance, testing, and much more. Donations support the purchase of fire apparatus and equipment including hoses, nozzles, and rescue saws.

Your generous donations have allowed us to provide our area's youth with one of the best fire prevention programs in the North Country. Throughout Fire Prevention Week and the entire month of October, Potsdam firefighters will be conducting visits to the area schools, spreading many fire safety messages throughout the community as well as hosting tours for classes at the Potsdam Fire Station.

Now is your opportunity to help the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department maintain its valuable service to the community. Please remember, the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department does not and has not authorized any individual or organization to use our name to solicit funds by telephone. If you should receive a phone call requesting a donation to benefit the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department we ask you obtain the caller's name and contact information, then contact the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department so we may follow up on this unauthorized activity.

Donations can be sent to:
Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 756
Potsdam, New York 13676

As always, any questions can be directed to any of the Officers of the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department.