Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
Nevada Division of Forestry Firefighters Denny Goldston and Emory Paul played to a tough crowd Thursday morning on the playground at Fritsch Elementary School.
Their goal was to teach first- and second-grade students the proper way to build and extinguish a campfire, one of five displays set up to teach about fire safety.
But one group of those little kids was not cutting the firefighters any slack.
They heckled Smokey Bear when he danced instead of growled.
"Don't dance, growl!" they chanted.
When Goldston told them dirt could also put out flames, David Robertson, 6, scoffed.
"No, dirt will make it worse," he said.
"No it won't," said Goldston gently.
"Yes. I did it once and it made it worse." David informed Goldston.
And another thing, David said, he was pretty sure that mud would be a better option than dirt. Classmate Jackson Kalicki, 6, agreed.
The Sierra Fire Protection District organized the fire safety course that included campfire safety, displays on how to feel a door for fire on the other side, how climb to safely from a window, "Stop, Drop and Roll," when to call 911, how to stay below smoke and the dangers of playing with matches.
The children were also given tours inside brush trucks, an ambulance and a helicopter that landed on the playground. They were also able to spray a fire hose.
After the interactive lessons, booklets reinforcing the lessons were sent home in packets with the kids, said Sierra Fire Protection firefighter Mark Regan.
Incline Fire, the Nevada Division of Forestry and the Carson City Fire Department took part in Thursday's event.
Regan said the firefighters enjoy the interaction with the kids.
"I get people signed up a year a head of time. Once they do it, they say, put me on the list for next year," he said.
Visits to each of the city's elementary schools will continue through November.
• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.