Lowe’s Safety Fair showcases fire trucks, fire safety | Local News | Summerville Journal Scene

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Lowe’s Safety Fair showcases fire trucks, fire safety

Published Tuesday, September 28, 2010 12:46 PM

By Stefan Rogenmoser
Summerville Journal Scene ®

file photo by David Berman

Up to 80 fire and rescue trucks are expected at the Lowe’s Safety Fair Monday.

This year’s Lowe’s Safety Fair fire truck parade will take a different route. About 80 trucks will start at Summerville Medical Center in Oakbrook at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 4, travel Trolley Road to North Main Street and pull into the Lowe’s parking lot at about 6:30.

The parade to the ninth annual Lowe’s Safety Fair will be led by Summerville Fire and Rescue and Old Fort Fire Department. Summerville’s 1929 American LaFrance truck “Bertha” will lead the way. Several area fire departments, EMS, Summerville Police and others will participate. Last year departments from Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, Macedonia, Charleston and North Charleston attended.

The safety fair starts at 3 p.m. and lasts until about 8. Once firefighters arrive they will serve hot dogs and sweet tea.

The event kicks off National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 3 – 9, and will help educate children and families about how to prevent fires and what to do in case of an emergency, Summerville Fire and Rescue Captain Ronnie Bryant says.

“We make people aware of different types of heating, fireplaces, heaters, as the weather starts to change,” Bryant says. The fair provides information for home exit drills, the importance of smoke detectors, fire prevention and is a good opportunity to see fire equipment in the area, Bryant says.

“Public safety is imperative,” Old Fort Fire Chief Ed Genthert says. “Buy someone a nice gift: a smoke detector. That’s a great gift. It’s one thing you can’t go wrong with.”

Lowe’s Store Manager Steven Benton says it’s their way of showing the community they care.

“This is our community event,” Lowe’s Exterior Project Specialist Shannon Locklair says. Before the truck arrive there will be booths, demonstrations and Summerville Fire and Rescue’s “Smokehouse,” a special trailer that simulates the inside of a burning house and how to escape.

“We’ve always supported police, the fire department and highway patrol,” Benton says. “Lowe’s supports the community. We’re not selling anything out there. Employees volunteer their time.”

Lowe’s will remain open during the safety fair.

Other community projects supported by Lowe’s this year include a $30,000 donation to Spann Elementary School, $35,000 to Habitat For Humanity for two homes, $5,000 for Harleyville-Ridgeville Elementary landscaping and $7,000 for the playground at the Callen-Lacy home for children in Goose Creek, according to Benton.

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