Whitesboro Fire Department Fire Prevention and Life Safety Team Honored with NYSAFC 2014 "James W. Wright Public Education Award"

NYSAFC is pleased to announce that the Whitesboro Fire Department’s Fire Prevention and Life Safety Team has been named the 2014 recipient of the "James W. Wright Public Fire Safety Education Award."

The award was presented to team members during the opening ceremony of the 41st Annual Public Fire Safety Educators’ Conference on May 3, 2014, co-hosted by the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control at the New York State Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls, N.Y.

NYSAFC has presented this award since 1995 to recognize an individual or fire department for outstanding effort in delivering fire and life safety public education programs to communities in New York state.

Led by Chairman Brian McQueen, the Whitesboro Fire Department Fire Prevention and Life Safety Team’s mission is to educate students to be active members of the community and to know what to do in the event of a fire or emergency.

The team delivers safety messages throughout Oneida County. Team members, all volunteers, have forged a close working relationship with county school districts, visiting numerous schools and day care facilities throughout the area each year.

A key component of the Whitesboro program is its creative and energetic puppet team, which engages young audiences while conveying critical fire prevention tips and safety information. In all aspects of the program, team members take an interactive approach to impart vital safety lessons. This hands-on technique helps to familiarize students with firefighters so they react calmly in an emergency.

"We honor the Whitesboro Fire Department’s Fire Prevention and Life Safety Team with this award for their proactive approach and commitment and dedication to the community," said NYSAFC 2nd Vice President Daniel Schwertfeger, chief of the Floyd Fire Department.