Meet local firefighters, tour fire stations at Good Neighbor Days

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Local fire stations are holding Good Neighbor Days throughout the month of August to give The Woodlands residents an opportunity to take their children to see the fire trucks and rescue equipment and meet the local fire fighters.

Local fire fighter, Justin Bumpass, said it gives the residents and their children the chance to see a fire truck outside of a parking lot during the summer as well as educating them on fire safety, equipment and showing them that fire trucks are nothing to fear.

“It’s really important for them not to be scared of the fire trucks, because generally they’re large and loud, and they’re probably intimidating to children unless they’re given the impression by their parents and by meeting the fire fighters that it’s not a scary thing,” Bumpass said. “If a fire fighter ever was in their house, they would know not to be scared and know that a fire fighter’s there to help.”

Depending on the age, fire fighter James Simpson said the kids are quite receptive of the information they are given.

“We go to the schools a lot too and talk to them,” Simpson said. “Sometimes it takes them a while to warm up to the equipment, but once they’re not so afraid of the truck, I think they’re very receptive.”

In addition to teaching kids about safety and helping families set up fire drills, Bumpass said it’s the fire fighters’ duty to make themselves available to the kids.

“Generally most kids have fire truck toys, and a lot of little boys want to be fire fighters,” Bumpass said. “You’re kind of a hero to a lot of little kids, so it’s kind of your duty to be friendly with them and let them see all the stuff they really like from their books, so that’s just being a good neighbor.”

The remaining Good Neighbor Days are Saturday, August 1 at 1100 Windsor Lakes Boulevard from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sunday, August 2 at 1522 Sawdust Road from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, August 8 at 7900 Bay Branch Road from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Saturday, August 29 at 9951 Grogan's Mill Road from 10:00 a.m. to noon.