Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been a mainstay of American culture. Whether teaching children how to stop, drop and roll; the importance of having an escape plan if your house catches fire; or remembering not to leave a pot of boiling water on the stove, the week of Oct. 9 is synonymous with fire safety.

This year the National Fire Protection Association’s marked the week with the theme “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned” as fire departments across the nation geared up to teach children and adults.

“It’s burn awareness,” Troup County fire Lt. Norman Robinson said. “Since we’ve started this program, we’ve actually have seen a decrease in house fires for the simple fact of (residents) being aware of what to do.

“Fatalities have decreased because of the awareness.”

With the number of elementary schools and senior and assisted-living apartments in Troup County, LaGrange and county fire officials are taking the month to travel around educating everyone they can on the importance of fire safety.

County fire members spent Thursday morning at Mountville Elementary School on Greenville Road showing children that a fully dressed firefighter is nothing to be afraid of, touring a fire truck and proving how cool Sparky the fire dog really is.

“(Fully dressed firefighters) sound like Darth Vader, but this is your friendly firefighter,” Robinson said. “They’re not here to hurt - they’re here to help.”

Members of the fire squad go step-by-step through the dressing process to show the children that, inside the suit, a normal person sits behind the mask.

“We talk about all kinds of things like that,” he said.

LaGrange fire members spent Friday morning showing 4-year-old students at St. Mark’s Kindergarten on North Greenwood Street that firefighters aim to protect people at all times.

Firefighter Duane Treadwell wore fire-resistant pants and an oxygen tank on his back to show the children how firefighters may look like monsters, but they’re really friendly.

“How ya’ll doing?” he said through the muffled gas mask.

Whatever Treadwell looked like to the children, it must have been amusing.

“He looks funny, doesn’t he?” fire Sgt. Gary Atkins asked the children. “Ya’ll think that’s funny don’t you?”

The children laughed at the firefighter, which is something fire officials like to hear because a person who’s afraid of a firefighter might not make it out of a structure fire.

“That’s a big thing we try to tell people and kids. Do not hide,” Atkins said. “Come out and let us find you. That’s what we’re there for - to come get you.”

After shaking Treadwell’s hand and sitting back down, the children listened as Atkins took another moment to make sure they understood the importance of fire safety.

“So what we want to do if we have a fire in the house? We want to get out and stay out,” he said. “You don’t go back in for your favorite toy. You can replace a toy, but we can’t replace you.”

Trey Wood can be reached at twood@ lagrangenews. com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 228.