The Peachtree City Fire Department recently unveiled its Fire Education Bus, which is specially equipped to teach people of all ages about fire safety in the home.
The bus is divided up into three rooms, the first being a kitchen where students will be taught burn prevention, cooking safety and poison prevention.
The second room was designed as a functional family room with a working fireplace, where fireplace safety will be taught with chimney cleaning and electrical concerns. This room also addresses seasonal issues such as Christmas tree fire safety and Halloween safety.
The final room is set up as a bedroom to show participants how to properly exit a room if a fire is discovered. Smoke detectors throughout the bus will alert occupants when to get low and out of a smoke filled environment.
The bus itself has a safe smoke generator that can pump smoke into the interior so participants can be taught how to crawl low and stay low under smoke.
Educators will also focus on the importance of planning ahead to have two ways out of every room in a home in case of fire.
The bus was made possible by donations of materials, services and money from many local businesses at an estimate of more than $32,000.
The effort began with a surplus 1991 Blue Bird school bus purchased from the Fayette County Board of Education’s transportation department.
Fire department members began the tedious process of stripping out the old school bus in preparation for its transformation. From there plans were drawn and the bus received a new paint job courtesy of Clayton International here in Peachtree City with the paint being donated from FinishMaster DuPont Paints Inc.
The project then was moved to Atlanta Custom Coaches in Palmetto for the interior transformation of the bus as well as the installation of the HVAC system and exterior awnings. Then many finishing touches to include interior paint, stain, trim work, and installation of multimedia devices.
Several talented firefighters added their skills and expertise to include FF/Paramedic Gary Meyer who constructed the fireplace and mantel by hand. The final finishing touches were added by another Firefighter/Emt Jeremy Henson who added the exterior lettering and graphics.
Other businesses who donated to the project include Walmart, Costco, Wilden Plastics, Henson Sign and Graphics, Members Insurance Advisors – Delta Federal Credit Union, Peachtree Immediate Care, World Airways, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Home Depot, Fayette Chimney Sweep and R+L Carriers.
Also donating were the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation and the Peachtree City Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, which raises money by selling pumpkins at Halloween and other special events.
The project was spearheaded by Lt. Chris Campbell along with Sgt. Stephanie Furey.
Organizers said this is just phase 1 of the safety bus as there are plans to make additions in the future, so more donations will be sought to make that happen.
