Riley Fire Department hosts fire safety dog event at local schools

Photo courtesy of Riley Fire Department

By Lucy Perry 
Indiana Central News

Youngsters will have the chance to learn fire safety from a special four-legged guest scheduled to visit four Vigo County elementary schools this month.

Riley Fire Department Public Information Officer Kevin Murphy explained that the planned visits are part of The Kasey Program, which teaches children various fire and life safety skills by using Kasey, a black Labrador Retriever, to perform techniques for emergency situations ---  such as stop, drop and roll, checking the door to see if it’s hot, knowing two ways out and other tips. This is the department's third year to host the program locally.

 Meanwhile,  the Riley Fire Department looks forward to expanding it to reach more students, at additional schools.

"We have brought the program to Riley, Sugar Creek, Hoosier Prairie, Lost Creek, Dixie Bee and West Vigo Elementary. It is our hope to bring the program to every elementary school in Vigo County on a five- year rotation," Murphy said, noting that The Kasey Program is the only full - time, nationally touring, fire prevention program in the country.

Kasey is scheduled to be in Vigo County at Terre Town, Fayette, Oubache and Meadows Elementary Schools May 11-  12.

 For more information, visit their website at: www.kaseyprogram.org.