Canton Fire Department Visits Students

By Courtney Warren

Normally, when firefighters aren’t keeping the community safe, they are visiting elementary students to educate children about firemen and fire safety. However, the freshman class at Canton Academy (CA) got a special treat when the Canton Fire Department stopped by the school. 

The freshmen are currently reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a 1953 dystopian novel. Often regarded as one of his best works, the novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed, and “firemen” burn any that are found as an act of censorship.

Fire Chief Kenna Pierce, Asst. Chief Timothy Dixon, Captain Redmond, and their team of firemen studied up on the novel to talk to the students about fire science. 

Students learned about the four phases of a fire, which are incipient phase, rollover phase, steady-state burning phase, flashover, hot smoldering phase, and backdraft.  

Chief Pierce excitedly told them about moments he experienced as a firefighter and what house fires are truly like versus what is seen on television. 

The men also discussed their pride in their job, and Lietuenant Joshua Millsap said, “You know, in the book you all are reading, these firemen aren’t heroes. They have taken the job and turned it into something that doesn’t help people but hurts people. We are very proud of what we do, and I would be incredibly disappointed if I saw this actually happen.” 

The men showed students how to control the water hose, the basics of rescuing someone when they can’t see in a house fire, and how the trucks operate. 

While Guy Montag, the fire chief in the novel, felt “it was a pleasure to burn,” the Panthers say they are very glad to have the CFD protecting the city from flames and much more.