Georgetown Twp. Fire hosts annual open house to foster education, awareness

GEORGETOWN TWP. — More than 900 people attended the Georgetown Township Fire Department's annual open house on Thursday night.

The highlight of the night was the Jaws of Life demonstration, where firefighters in their turnout gear used battery-operated equipment to dismantle a Chevy Malibu, showing how they would be able to rescue someone pinned in a damaged vehicle.

Lieutenant Todd Hower worked for the last few months to arrange the event.
"It's fire prevention week," Hower said. "So we've been visiting all the schools in the township this week."

Stephanie and her two kids came especially for the Jaws of Life demonstration.

"The fire department came to their school today and told us about this event," she said. "We just had some extra time and decided to come check it out."

Several other groups joined the event:

• Ottawa County Central Dispatch and Corewell Health had tables inside the open garage.
• Allendale Fire Department brought its Live Burn trailer to demonstrate fire extinguisher use.
• Hudsonville Fire Department brought its fire safety trailer, specially designed to help people learn how to escape smoky buildings.
• Blendon Township Fire Department had a small pool, filled by one of their trucks, to demonstrate its scuba rescue gear.
• Michigan State Police brought a cruiser, as did the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. Life EMS brought an ambulance.
• Sammy's Party on Wheels brought several inflatables.

"We got a lot of departments here," Hower said.

He said their visits to the schools focus a lot of basic fire safety; stop-drop-roll, don't play with matches and lighters, and kitchen safety.

Support Our Work

Ottawa News Network is a nonprofit news service dedicated to providing the residents of Ottawa County with trustworthy, community-driven news. ONN treats journalism as a public good — something that enriches lives and empowers Ottawa County’s 300,000-plus residents to stay engaged, make informed decisions, and strengthen local democracy. Please consider giving today.

"The No. 1 cause of home fires in Michigan and the nation is cooking," Hower said. "And because we all do that, we're all at risk."

Firefighter Dan Mesman had a demonstration stove and a simple game to help people learn what could be used safely to put out a fire in the kitchen.

Since kitchen fires are usually grease fires, water is a very bad idea. Flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and towels — wet or dry — are also not effective.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. If the fire is in the oven or on the stovetop, the first thing to do is turn them off. If the fire is in the oven, keep the door closed. If the fire is on the stovetop, smother the flames.

Mesman said smothering the fire with a pot lid, a large cookie sheet, or baking soda will work if you don't have a fire extinguisher available.

To remember whether to use baking soda or baking powder, he just thinks, "the box, not the can."

Township Trustee John Schwalm was also at the event and praised it for how hands-on it was.

"This is the best one I've ever seen," he said.

— Joshua Vissers covers communities in eastern Ottawa County. Contact him at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.