MIRI (Oct 16): Thirty-five preschoolers from Tadika Harapan Montessori were given an engaging, hands-on lesson in fire safety yesterday from the Lutong Fire and Rescue (Bomba) Station.

Held at the kindergarten from 9.30am to noon, the comprehensive programme equipped the children with crucial survival skills.

These included evacuation procedures, identifying assembly points and safety exits, maintaining good housekeeping practices, and demonstrating the life-saving “stop, drop, and roll” technique.

The young participants also learned the critical skill of crawling low in smoke to avoid toxic fumes during a fire emergency.

Adding to the excitement, a fire truck was deployed for the demonstration, giving the children a close-up look at the essential equipment firefighters use daily.

“We believe in starting fire safety education early and these children are learning skills that could one day save their lives or the lives of their family members,” said Lutong fire chief Henry Jugah.

The session was briefly interrupted when Team Bravo from Lutong Bomba Station had to respond to an emergency call about a snake at Masjid Lutong.

Demonstrating their department’s motto of ‘High Performance, Fast and Friendly Service’, the firefighters swiftly attended to the incident and returned to complete the programme with the kindergarteners.

The fire safety education programme is part of Bomba’s ongoing community outreach efforts, aimed at building a more fire-conscious society from the ground up by empowering the next generation with the knowledge to protect themselves and others.