Wilmington event educates children about first responders and their duties

WILMIGNTON, NC (WWAY) — An event meant to educate children about area first responders took place Tuesday afternoon at Independence Mall in Wilmington. 

New Hanover County Fire and Rescue hosted its third annual F.I.R.E.S event. It stands for Fire Igniting Readiness, Emergency Preparedness and Safety. 

Several New Hanover County agencies were in attendance, including Wilmington Fire Department and Wilmington Police Department. There were fire trucks, a hands-on CPR training course, and even a first responder fashion show. 

Britney Melvin is the Community Risk Reduction Coordinator. She said Tuesday was all about having fun and getting to know those that work to keep the community safe. 

“It also gives children the opportunity to be able to see everyone in a positive light. We don’t want to just see people at their worst, we want to see them at their best. So, they’re able to come in, they’re able to learn, and we’re giving them the opportunity to see us as a friend and not someone they need to run from in case there is an emergency,” Melvin said. 

There were also several activities to increase awareness about fire safety, including learning ways to exit a room safely.