APPLETON — “I feel cool,” Logan said, as the uniform-clad eighth grader sat in the driver’s seat of an Appleton fire truck. “Very top heavy, but mostly, I just feel cool.”

Logan first tried on the uniform during last year’s Fire Prevention Awareness Week drill and presentations at the Appleton Village School. This year, he easily gravitated toward that same uniform, and was helped to dress by several friends, one of whom held the uniform pants up as Logan took a stroll.

As has happened for longer than Fire Department members Kevin Grierson and Matt Dixon can remember, firefighters again let students pull tight the rigid gloves that were an inch too long for Logan, climb the trucks, and pretend to answer the call.

But not, of course, before impressing upon the youngsters a Listen, Look, Learn message that was serious yet patient and kid-friendly, Friday, Oct. 12, at the school.

“You are the most important things to me,” Appleton Asst. Fire Chief Brian Sullivan told students. “Nothing is going to keep me from getting to you. If I have to go through walls, I’ll go through walls.” (Hence, the ax.)

Three consecutive student groups listened to Sullivan’s practical tips, including not wasting time reaching for ‘important’ items such as iPods when evacuating, and letting firefighters worry about rescuing pets. 

If a person is stuck in a room, optimal practice is to close the door, wedge a towel underneath the door, and wave illuminated flashlights near a window.

Make lots of noise, said Sullivan. Stomp your feet, play the drums, kick and yell and scream.

When asked by a young child how he could talk while wearing a mask, the answer was “Not very well.” The voices are drowned out, which is why yelling and noise-making is requested.

When asked how many fire departments exist, Sullivan said Knox County has 14, and most of them are volunteer. The Appleton department is volunteer, as well, and always encouraging more adult membership. Members need not even enter a burning building.

The most important messages for the students: Don’t hide, make noise, and practice.

The lesson for Sullivan — when asked by a Kindergartner what’s in all of the bags on stage — was don’t respond with ‘it’s my lunch.’ That just ignites a new line of questioning as to why he eats so much.

“Because I’m a firefighter,” he said.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com