By Jason Klaiber

Staff Writer

The Fayetteville Free Library presented a story time with a firefighting theme on Aug. 10, bringing in a member of the village’s fire department for the occasion.

The morning event started off with interactive exercises to wake up the children present, including handclaps, foot stomping and singing.

Heather Matzel, the library’s executive director, read “Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete,” a picture book by author and illustrator James Dean about a field trip to a firehouse.

Emergency Medical Services Lieutenant Louis Neuburger, addressed as “Firefighter Lou,” then showed up to read “The Fire Engine Book” by Jesse Younger and let children try on his helmet.  

Neuburger, who started his career as an emergency medical technician in 1979, shared advice and knowledge garnered in his 40-year career to the audience of children and parents.

He said most fire engines are painted red to be noticeable on the roadways and that each department has its own pipe specialist designated to hook the hose up to the nearest fire hydrant.

Fire departments are a team and when responding to a call, there are a number of procedures that need to be followed in an organized manner.

Neuburger tried to give his audience a sense of what some of those processes are and why they are so important.

“People have assigned responsibilities, and they do it like clockwork,” Neuburger said. “Everybody knows their job and what we’re going to do, because sometimes seconds count.”

The book Neuburger read made mention of tools used by firefighters, such as axes to break down doors in an emergency as well as air tanks and face masks to prevent smoke inhalation.

Employed by the Fayetteville Fire Department for the past eight years, Neuburger said he enjoys having his department engage with the community members it serves.

“We try and show our face to the community so they’re used to seeing us out in the streets and at local events like this,” he said. “It’s time well spent.”  

After the story time, children gravitated to one of two arts and crafts stations. At one, kids colored and cut out pictures of fire trucks. At the other, they made replica dalmations, often seen as a the symbolic mascto of fire departmetns, with paper plates and construction paper.

Children also checked out the interiors of a fire engine and two ambulances brought to the nearby parking lot.

Neuburger said the purpose of the event was to get children comfortable with seeing firefighters’ uniforms and equipment, preparing them to be unafraid in the case of a future call to their house or neighborhood.

Matzel said the fire department’s library visit had been intentionally scheduled for a Saturday to allow working parents to accompany their children.

“The story times are just excellent information for the children,” Library Assistant Josephine Laneve said. “It’s a nice family time.”

The Fayetteville Fire Department also teaches first aid, fire safety and “Stop the Bleed” training around the community as well as car seat modifications.

On Oct. 5, the department plans to make a return to Fayetteville Free Library, located at 300 Orchard St.