News : 'Someone's dad coming to help': Firefighters share safety lessons at Tilford

Dan McKenna helps son Wes put on his firefighter's coat during classroom visits Tuesday.

Three generations: Firefighter Blake Henkle, son Hayden and Hayden's grandpa, Dan Albert.

It can be scary, Vinton firefighter Dan Albert told a class of students at Tilford Elementary, to see a firefighter in full gear, with a helmet and breathing apparatus.

But, he said, that firefighter is simply "someone's dad coming to help you."

Often the firemen who participate in Fire Prevention Week activities are indeed the fathers of a Tilford student. Ths year, two firefighters, Dan McKenna (son Wes) and Blake Henkle (son Hayden) had the chance to meet their children's classmates. Hayden is also a grandson of Dan Albert. And Aiden Parmeter welcomed his uncle, Brett Stein.

Firefighters gave children lessons about calling 911, smoke detectors, having a safe place to gather outside the home in case of fire, and how to react if trapped in a house on fire.

After the firemen finished, the teachers passed out the gifts they had left behind, including coloring books.

"All of our firemen are volunteers," Tina Vasquez told her class, explaining that they do the work of firemen without getting paid, and hold other jobs.

The lessons will continue this week, as students visit the fire station on Wednesday and Kindergarten students ride the fire trucks around town on Thursday.

See more photos of Tuesday's classroom visits HERE.