Spring Break
KFD draws new URI recruits with extrication demonstration
Whitney Tallarico
Issue date: 10/21/08 Section: News
10/21/08 - For years, the volunteer-based Kingston Fire Department has been recruiting students from the University of Rhode Island to fill their available positions.
The department took Friday as an opportunity to recruit new student firefighters during a demonstration they provided in front of the Memorial Union, showing passersby how to extricate a car.
The process started at noon and continued for two hours. Kingston firefighter and recent URI alumnus Matthew Alvarez said the car was donated to the fire department by a junkyard, and they "slowly cut the car into pieces, explaining how to break down a car carefully."
The goal of the demonstration was to attract new members and show the public and new recruits how to get a person out of a car in case of an emergency, Alvarez said.
Ten to 15 people remained transfixed as firefighters took the car apart. Several other students stopped by to check out what the firefighters were up to while passing the Memorial Union.
After taking apart the car, the firefighters invited members of the public to come down to the firehouse and enjoy some burgers and hotdogs.
"First, we sat them down and asked them what made them interested [in volunteering], and then we went to the garage and showed them our five trucks," Alvarez said.
Firefighters then showed students the fire trucks and discussed different tools and techniques to use in different scenarios.
Students were also offered a tour of the nine-room house. There were eight dorm-sized single bedrooms, and one larger room known as "the mansion," which Alvarez said, "is reserved for the three junior members so that they can learn and study together during training."
Kingston Fire Fighters, however, were still not done for the day.
When the Rhody Rally ended around 8:30 p.m., hundreds of students filed out of Mackal Field House, looking expectantly at a pile of wood. As part of the homecoming festivities, the traditional bonfire is set up outside. The firefighters were given the task of supervising the fire.
During the fire, several students approached the firefighters looking for more information on becoming firefighters.
"Five to six people signed up to become volunteer fighter fighters," Alvarez said.
Once the bonfire was lit, the firefighters kept people at a safe distance from the flames and made sure that the fire was maintainable.
"All we did all night was let the fire burn and keep a hose close and ready in case anything got out of hand," Alvarez said. "It was a very successful day."
The department took Friday as an opportunity to recruit new student firefighters during a demonstration they provided in front of the Memorial Union, showing passersby how to extricate a car.
The process started at noon and continued for two hours. Kingston firefighter and recent URI alumnus Matthew Alvarez said the car was donated to the fire department by a junkyard, and they "slowly cut the car into pieces, explaining how to break down a car carefully."
The goal of the demonstration was to attract new members and show the public and new recruits how to get a person out of a car in case of an emergency, Alvarez said.
Ten to 15 people remained transfixed as firefighters took the car apart. Several other students stopped by to check out what the firefighters were up to while passing the Memorial Union.
After taking apart the car, the firefighters invited members of the public to come down to the firehouse and enjoy some burgers and hotdogs.
"First, we sat them down and asked them what made them interested [in volunteering], and then we went to the garage and showed them our five trucks," Alvarez said.
Firefighters then showed students the fire trucks and discussed different tools and techniques to use in different scenarios.
Students were also offered a tour of the nine-room house. There were eight dorm-sized single bedrooms, and one larger room known as "the mansion," which Alvarez said, "is reserved for the three junior members so that they can learn and study together during training."
Kingston Fire Fighters, however, were still not done for the day.
When the Rhody Rally ended around 8:30 p.m., hundreds of students filed out of Mackal Field House, looking expectantly at a pile of wood. As part of the homecoming festivities, the traditional bonfire is set up outside. The firefighters were given the task of supervising the fire.
During the fire, several students approached the firefighters looking for more information on becoming firefighters.
"Five to six people signed up to become volunteer fighter fighters," Alvarez said.
Once the bonfire was lit, the firefighters kept people at a safe distance from the flames and made sure that the fire was maintainable.
"All we did all night was let the fire burn and keep a hose close and ready in case anything got out of hand," Alvarez said. "It was a very successful day."
