The children have been having lots of fun playing with the small world fire station. They thought that fire fighters only helped people if they had a fire. We learned that they also help people who are stuck in their cars after a crash. We know this because we met Andy and the fire fighters from Bathgate Fire Station came today. It was very exciting because they came in their engine and we got to have a good explore and ask questions.

The firefighters showed us the equipment they use to cut cars open…they cut the legs of an old table at nursery. It was a spreader although today it made the legs flat and pincers which cut the legs off. We also saw the hose, lights and heard the siren. It was ‘very loud’.

We asked….

Q. How heavy is the equipment?

A. it is very heavy. You need to be very fit to be a firefighter.

Before the firefighters would put the siren on they asked us….

Q. Why does the engine have lights, horn and a siren?

A. we told them it was so people could hear them coming.

Andy agreed it is very important that people who are driving can hear them coming when they are answering a 999 call.

And then they got a ‘fire call’ so had to go and help some pensioners in Livingston. They will be back to visit us next week.