Considering they have two separate fire companies that cover the town’s 46 square miles of land, team work makes the dream work when it comes to fire prevention awareness in Monroe Township.
The Cecil Fire Company is responsible for everything on the south side of Malaga Road, while the Williamstown Fire Department covers everything north of Malaga Road. The two entities came together on Oct. 8 for their second annual joint fire prevention night at the WalMart located on Malaga Road.
Chief of Cecil Fire Company Jim Solomon and Chief of Williamstown Fire Department Frank Murray said the decision was made to join together for one celebration last year. The joint celebration preaches unity between the two groups, other first responders and the rest of the Monroe Township community.
“It’s more uniform. It’s a bigger, better, nicer display,” Murray said. “There’s more camaraderie. It’s received very well through town.”
The two groups take their time preaching fire safety in the community, too. Both Cecil and WFD have a presence in the elementary schools and learning centers in the township, teaching everything from “stop, drop and roll” to “change your clock, change your batteries” to knowing two ways out of every room and ensuring the bedroom door is closed before going to sleep, among many other fire safety measures.
Solomon has been with Cecil for seven years but has 43 years experience in the fire service. He preaches having an escape plan in place in the event something happens at the house.
“You want to have a route, a family meeting place outside and make sure every family has a clear understanding of the plan if something does happen,” he said. “Don’t just talk about it. Practice it. Practice it to make sure they know how it happens.”
Both Murray and Solomon spoke to the importance of knowing today’s rooms and furniture burn hotter and quicker than rooms 40 years ago.
“Fire safety is important especially in today’s day and time with new fabric and new materials in homes and how much quicker things burn today than yesterday. Very important to know that. Everything is much more flammable than years ago,” Murray said.
“One of the things I do twice a year with members, I show a video that shows a room with legacy furniture (old style furniture) and modern construction and a clock shows from the time a particular couch is set on fire, how quick the modern room flashes over, or is engulfed in flames. The legacy rooms went close to 24 minutes before the room started to flash over,” Solomon added.
At the end of the day, fire safety is something that can and should be practiced year round. Both fire companies are active in the community and have been known to assist anyone who needs help from installing or replacing smoke alarms to showing off a truck for local children.
“We preach fire safety year round, we live it,” Murray said.
For more information on the two fire houses or to inquire about fire safety measures, visit their Facebook pages “Cecil Fire Company” and “WFD 291.”
