THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 1995 TAG: 9510100090
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
JUSTIN HERNANDEZ and D.J. Daniels stood next to each other and covered their ears as the shrill siren pierced the air. Their 3-year-old eyes widened as they stared up at the big - really big - red firetruck. They studied Don Moss, the man blasting the siren and blowing the horn.
Being a fireman sure looked like fun to them just then.
Moss certainly hopes the images stick with the children, even if they go on to choose another line of work.
He wants them to remember him and especially all the things they learned during their recent visit with him and other fire educators at the Fire Training Center on Birdneck Road.
His lessons could save their lives someday.
``Virginia Beach has a pro-active fire education program,'' said Moss, a master firefighter. ``We're far below the national average in fire deaths.''
The 20-year firefighting veteran, known as ``Fireman Don'' to the kids, would like to improve upon that already-admirable figure.
Nearly 6,000 Americans die each year from fire. About 25 percent of the victims are children under the age of 9. Moss found that statistic troubling and wanted a way to bring attention to the tragedy. His answer is what he calls the ``World's First and Only Monster Fire Truck,'' the vehicle that wowed Justin and D.J.
Moss bought a 1944 Seagrave firetruck about two years ago. He and students at the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center remade and restored the antique engine, turning it into an eye-catching educational tool that is the monster truck.
Its gleaming red paint is covered with fire safety stickers. The monster truck rests on a 10-ton, four-wheel-drive dump truck chassis donated by the city.
It sits high in the air on 5-foot-tall tires that weigh 1,000 pounds each. The monster truck is powered by 427-cubic-inch General Motors Corp. motor converted to compressed natural-gas engine contributed by Virginia Natural Gas, a financial supporter. Not only is the firetruck the first of its kind anywhere, it is also the first powered by natural gas, a concession to environmental concerns.
But the truck's awesome specifications aren't the reason that Moss worked so hard on it.
``When I went to monster truck shows, I noticed that the audience was 75 to 80 percent kids. It hit me that a truck like that would get kids' - older kids, too - attention.''
Justin and D.J. of the New Covenant Pre-School were among 500 children who took part in the Pre-School Extravaganza last month at the Fire Training Center on Birdneck Road. The program has been held in September for the past nine years. A fire prevention program has been in place since 1975.
``Every level of students receives fire-safety instruction,'' said Moss of the week-long instruction, ``so we thought the pre-schoolers should take it.''
Ted Lindsey, aka Fireman Ted, had his ladder truck parked next to the monster truck. He called on Kristyn Sawyer to join him next to the 52,000-pound truck. Lindsey placed Kristyn next to a wheel.
``See how big that wheel is,'' said Lindsey. ``If you hear a firetruck coming down the street, what do you want to do?
``That's right, you want to see where it's going, but you should never go out in the street. If one truck has come by, there'll be another and you don't want to get hurt, do you?''
``No,'' answered Kristyn and her classmates from Sunnybrook Day School.
The pre-schoolers learned about the dangers of smoke inhalation during a puppet show in the training center's classroom. They learned what to do if they are caught in a smoke-filled room.
``Stop, drop and roll,'' the children sang along with Freddie the Singing Fire Truck, making the motions with their hands.
Freddie took up residence at the training center about eight years ago. The small white plastic truck with flashing red lights was donated by the Virginia Beach Junior Woman's Club, said members Debbie Jones and Lee Ann Breedlove. The club also donated money to KIDZ SHOW, the fire-safety house used by the fire education program.
Cole Conrad, 5, also of Sunnybrook, was impressed by the equipment that he saw. However, he left the training center with some important information, he said.
``Stop, drop and roll was the best, because if your clothes catch on fire that will put it out,'' said the astute Cole.
Just one student like Cole makes Moss think his time spent spreading the message of fire safety is worthwhile.
The message has been effective as well as fun, said Cappy Meredith.
``We haven't had a fire death in the city in more than a year,'' said Meredith, who works as a supervisor in fire education for the fire marshall's office.
Normally, a city Virginia Beach's size suffers about 12 to 15 fire deaths a year, she said. The Beach has averaged about three or four deaths a year since 1980. MEMO: Vo-tech students built `monster'
The city's newest and most eye-catching educational tool, a
monster-sized bright red fire truck, was unveiled at a ceremony held at
the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center on North
Landing Road recently.
Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, Rep. Owen Pickett and Fire Chief Harry Diezel
were among those on hand for the dedication of the 10-ton truck.
Thanks to people like Master Fireman Don Moss; contributions from the
city and Virginia Natural Gas; and the hard labor of Vo-Tech teacher
Mark Maund and students from Vo-Tech's automotive service technology,
diesel and apprenticeship fundamentals, welding, painting and body
programs, the monster truck didn't cost Beach taxpayers a dime.
``It took us two years, but we learned a lot from working on the
truck,'' said David Ehlers, a senior auto tech student.
The truck has already made appearances at several fairs, exhibits and
shows.
It is on display again this week through Saturday at Lynnhaven Mall
in honor of Fire Prevention Week.
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
ALL FIRED UP
[Color photo]
ON THE COVER: Justin Hernandz, left, and D.J. Daniels sit in the
"monster" tires
Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Master firefighter Don Moss talks to preschoolers about the gleaming
red monster firetruck, which sits on a 10-ton, four-wheel-drive dump
truck chassis donated by the city.
Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
Master firefighter Bruce Pensyl works with Boots The Fire Dog and
Cindy Blue during a puppet skit for preschoolers.
Staff photos, including color cover, by CHARLIE MEADS
Master firefighter Don Moss talks to preschoolers about the gleaming
red monster firetruck, which sits on a 10-ton, four-wheel-drive dump
truck chassis donated by the city.
Tricia Behan, a fire education specialist at the Virginia Beach Fire
Training Center, helps up Shannon Breedlove after she had crawled
under Mean Old Mr. Smoke. Behan also used Freddie The Fire Truck to
teach exiting a burning building.
by CNB