Standish students learned about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week last week. National Fire Prevention Week is celebrated during the month of October to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of October 9, 1871. The blaze, which lasted for several days, claimed more than 250 lives and destroyed 17,430 structures.

In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge declared Fire Prevention Week an official national observance. Fire Departments throughout the United States plan special Fire Prevention activities during this time. The National Fire Prevention Association has chosen “Use Candles with Care” as the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week. Fire departments in SAD 6 plan special activities for the district’s elementary schools.

Students at the George E. Jack School in Standish observed fire safety week. Ben Haskell, Brent Libby, and Kevin Leeman from the Standish Fire Department talked to the students in their classrooms about “Be Home Safe…Keep Fires Out.” They and the students talked about things in the home that can start fires. The students also got a tour of a fire truck and found out what the firefighters have for gear. One of the visiting fireman was Ben Haskell, a former student of George E. Jack and a 1999 graduate of Bonny Eagle High School