FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- The Fort Jackson Fire Department received a mobile Fire Safety House Monday that will be used to teach children how to react in case a fire or other emergency breaks out at home.
The interior of the approximately 40-foot long trailer was custom built to resemble the inside of a typical house, complete with a functioning kitchen.
The Fire Safety House will play a prominent role during Fire Prevention Week, which is scheduled for Fort Jackson beginning Oct. 5.
"It couldn't have come at a better time," said Peter Hines, fire inspector for Fort Jackson's Department of Emergency Services. "This will be a huge asset to Fire Prevention Week."
Children will be able to see firsthand how to deal with household emergencies like a stove fire. The trailer is equipped with smoke generators that make the simulation more realistic.
"I'd rather them learn safety in a controlled environment like this than in a real-world situation," Hines said. "It's a mobile classroom is really what it is. The more we can educate the public, the better."
The trailer is also equipped with a high-tech video and sound system, as well as hydraulics, which allow for a realistic portrayal of what it's like to be in a tornado or hurricane.
During a demonstration of the system on Monday, the trailer rocked back and forth as the window blinds shook, television played a severe-weather warning and the sounds of wind and rain blared out of the speakers.
Daryl Jones, a trainer with Mobile Concepts, the company that built the Fire Safety House, said the trailer engages children's attention, making safety training more effective.
"You make it fun and enjoyable, and that's how kids learn," Jones said. "People's lives have been saved because they went through Fire Safety Houses like this one."
The Fire Safety House cost approximately $70,000 and was paid for with funds generated from the Fort Jackson Recycling Center.
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