Firefighters bring youth prevention message to the streets of Greensburg

Greensburg children got a special visit from firefighters Sunday and a lesson in fire prevention brought right to their doorstep.

Volunteers with the city’s fire department delivered plastic fire hats, coloring books and other items to help children learn how to stop fires before they even start.

It’s a lesson third-grader Aubrii Maybury already knew about, but she and her younger brothers were excited nonetheless.

“We’ve been learning about fire stuff at school,” she said, adding that she knows it is important to have an escape plan.

Her mother Danielle Maybury said the family just moved into a home in the city during the weekend, but they’d talk about a plan once they’re settled in. Firefighters’ efforts Sunday were in place of the annual Fire Prevention Night outside Westmoreland Mall, which was canceled in August because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

The event typically features about 80 local fire companies and draws more than 500 people. Fire Chief Tom Bell said city firefighters wanted to make sure the message got out despite the cancellation.

“Hopefully it’s the only time we have to do this,” Bell said.

There were six simultaneous mini-parades around town as fire trucks from each station took to the neighborhood streets with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Department president Rick Steele drove one of the trucks around parts of town while his son, Brett, 14, hopped out with bags of goodies and plastic fire hats on a cool autumn afternoon. Four-year-old Eleanor Bowser clutched a stuffed animal while taking the items with the help of her dad, Andrew Bowser.

”Fire prevention is something we take very seriously in the City of Greensburg,” Rick Steele said.