River Forest Fire Chief Reads to Kids, Teaches Fire Safety

As part of a the River Forest Library's Celebrity Storytellers program, local fire chief Jim Eggert, spent some time on Tuesday afternoon reading to kids, showing them around the fire station and explaining how their special suits help them save lives—even if they look a little scary sometimes.

Each year in River Forest, the fire chief spends time reading to kids during Fire Prevention Week. It's an important opportunity for the kids to learn about fire safety and for firefighters to teach kids about the job.

"Today is a special day," Eggert told about 15 kids in attendance at the reading. "140 years ago there was a big fire in the city of Chicago."

The fire, of course, is the Great Chicago Fire, Eggert explained. He told the kids that based on the destruction the fire caused, new updated fire codes were created across the country, and it's the reason Fire Prevention Week comes at this time each year.

After reading from Fireman Small, children's book by Wong Herbert Yee, Eggert showed kids in attendance some of the tools that firefighters use on the job and demonstrated for kids how a firefighter looks in their full uniform. 

"I want you all to see what it looks like when a firefighter comes to your home," Eggert explained. "You don't need to be scared or hide. When you hear a fireman, yell to tell them where you're at."

Kids were especially amazed to learn that River Forest firefighters can get dressed in their full suit in under a minute in order to get to a fire as fast as possible.

"Remember that the next time you're late for school," Ms. Ellen, a River Forest librarian told them.