Every October--Fire Safety Month--brings the Bluffton Fire Department to the elementary school. But this year, Chief Jon Kinn and volunteer firefighters Tyler Delong-Clem and John Bowers provided something a little different: two assemblies for all students in grades K-5.
Principal Ben Thiel appreciated having a program that emphasized responsibility and preparation for all grades, noting that the program was "not just fun," it was about having a plan in the event of a fire.
Students were reminded not to hide in the event of a fire, to do all you can to get out of the building and to have a fire safety plan at home with a designated meeting place.
Students asked Kinn if he had ever needed to leave an event to fight a fire. On this day, the crew actually responded to a ditch fire in between the assemblies.
The Ohio Fire Marshall provides the attached fire safety information for families:
https://com.ohio.gov/static/documents/fire_safetychildren.pdf
![Over 500 students attended fire safety assemblies](https://www.blufftonicon.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature/public/images/cutlines/2022/51522-fire-safety-assemblies-bluffton-elementary.jpg?itok=ec_Y-Rnt)
![Fire fighters Tyler Delong-Clem, John Kinn (fire chief) and John Bowers](https://www.blufftonicon.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature/public/images/cutlines/2022/51523-fire-safety-assemblies-bluffton-elementary.jpg?itok=GSUA_wEX)