FREDERICKTOWN — The Fredericktown Community Fire District was contacted by the Mount Vernon Police Department on January 15 regarding a person soliciting advertising sponsorships for a fire prevention program recently in Knox County. The program in question is called Firefighter Phil or Officer Phil, and is a legitimate national program that provides direct education to children in the PreK-3 setting during Fire Prevention Week and other times of the year.
“This has been an ongoing program in the Fredericktown Schools for as many years as I have been here. I don’t know what other schools utilize the services of Firefighter Phil or Officer Phil, but this is a nationally recognized program,” said FCFD Chief Scott Mast.
The parent company Creative Safety Products was contacted this morning by the FCFD and Gail Haresign confirmed that in Fredericktown, this is a program that has been presented for 18 years to the elementary school. Furthermore she stated that they were checking with their local representative to follow up and gather additional information on the matter.
“To our knowledge, nothing has changed in how they solicit businesses for ad sponsorship that appears in their coloring books and materials presented to the children,” said Chief Mast. “The representative has an official letter signed by myself in support of the program for our area.”
Firefighter Phil is not the only manner in which the FCFD presents programs within the district, but is a great way to augment educational outreach that is being done in other ways.
“I’ve seen the program in action at the Fredericktown School and the dialogue and manner which they present the material keeps the interest of the child,” said Lt. Jason Bostic. “It is an excellent way for us to supplement the programs and activities that we do with our fire prevention at the FCFD.”
The FCFD provided fire prevention and education materials or direct programs to 1528 persons within the fire district during the 2013 year and have successfully grown the program yearly to provide learning opportunities.
