Palmer gets fire safety 'classroom'

PALMER -- Firefighters in the Mat-Su will soon have another way to teach people about fire safety, thanks to a federal grant secured by Palmer Fire Chief Dan Contini.

Palmer Fire Department has received a $69,000 grant from the Fire Service Division to buy a 33-foot simulated home to teach children and others how to escape from a home fire. Contini announced the grant during Tuesday's Palmer City Council meeting.

"It's a miniature home," he said. "There's even a little ladder where they can climb out the window."

The trailer has a full-sized kitchen, bedroom and living room. It will allow hands-on practice for people to learn how to get outside most efficiently in case of fire.

Contini said he's wanted to secure one of the models for some time. The wheeled unit can be taken to various schools and other sites in the Valley for demonstrations, he said.

The city of Palmer must come up with a 10 percent match to the grant, which also provides $6,000 toward purchase of a truck to haul the unit.

Contini said only two companies manufacture the one-floor mini homes for fire safety instruction. Other firms offer two-story designs but those aren't as effective as teaching tools, he said. Contini said the city will choose from products made by one company in Pennsylvania and another in Ohio.

The model that is chosen will be driven across the U.S. -- at a cost of $1.15 per mile -- to Seattle, where it will be barged to Alaska. Transportation costs must be paid by the city, Contini said, which gives the Ohio firm a head start toward getting the bid.

The unit will probably be delivered to Palmer by July or August. Contini said it will be owned by the city of Palmer, but will be available for use by other fire departments in the Valley.