On Saturday March 23, 2024, Members of Ridge VFD attended the 2024 Public Fire and Life Safety Educator Seminar at the Maryland Fire Rescue Institute headquarters in College Park Md. Firefighters Robb Bickel and Johnny Wathen, along with Auxiliary members Jessica Snyder and Becky Wathen attended to gain knowledge of new programming available in Fire Prevention and Life Safety and how to bring it to our community. During the seminar, presentations were given on varied topics such as teaching Fire safety to middle and high school students given by Leigh Kish, Fire & Life Safety Educator from Charlotte NC, ideas to implement community programs for life safety given by Ryan Whittington of Ocean City Fire Department, what to do in your community to mitigate wildland fires given by Lance Carroll of the Maryland Forestry Service, an Emergency Preparedness Scavenger Hunt given by Dr. Laura Cathcart with the University of Maryland Baltimore campus, and Youth Fire Setters given by Christina Impallaria, Public Education Specialist with Anne Arundel County Fire Department. Teresa Ann Crisman, who is the Chair of the Maryland State Firemen's Association Fire Prevention Committee provided an update of upcoming events throughout the state, and laws moving through legislature pertaining to Fire Prevention.
The members who attended would like thank MFRI, all the presenters and the sponsors for this extremely educational and informative event. We look forward to implementing the knowledge and information into our local community as well as ways to implement in our own homes and educating our members and their families.