NORFOLK, Va. –
First responders from Joint Base Langley-Eustis took their show on the road, bringing fire safety and military working dog demonstrations to the masses at the Norfolk Children's Festival Oct. 6.
Personnel from the Fort Eustis Fire Department brought an all-terrain "brush truck," a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle specially outfitted to fight fires in hard-to-access areas, for visitors to look inside. Additionally, the department showcased its mobile fire safety house trailer, featuring a mock-up of the inside of a home to provide a glimpse into where house fires can start and how to avoid them.
Across the way, Airmen from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron set up shop to show spectators the skills of the squadron's MWDs and handlers. The demonstration featured obedience, apprehension and smell detection.
The defenders performed the fan-favorite "bite suit" routine, where handlers don thick protective sleeves and tops to allow the dogs to bite them, drawing laughter and applause from the audience, which numbered in the hundreds through the day.
Fort Eustis Fire Inspector Keith Boyd, who spent a majority of the day greeting visitors and letting youngsters sit at the wheel of the brush truck for photos, said the team visited not only to show off their fun side, but to educate the public about fire safety.
"We want people to understand how important it is to have a plan, and to know what to do if there is a fire," he said. "We want to have a good time, and we think we can get a message across at the same time."
Between handing out coloring books and flyers, Inspectors Carneal Smith and Joe Carroll walked interested visitors through the fire safety house trailer, discussing how to prevent fires and plan escape routes inside the home.
Tech. Sgt. James Carman, who hosted the MWD show, said he was glad to show the public a side of the Air Force few know about.
"We're happy to be down here to put on a show for everyone," he said. "A lot of people don't realize we even have working dogs. They're a huge part of our mission."
Editor's Note: Oct. 8-13, 2012, is Fire Prevention Week. Be sure to check out The Peninsula Warrior Oct. 20 for continuing coverage of JBLE's firefighters in action.