Fire-proofing Winter Park kids

Even before Firehouse Subs opened its doors on Park Avenue, franchise owners Tom and Joanne Calato had their eyes on ways they could make a difference in the Winter Park community.

“We wanted to do more than just sell sandwiches,” said Tom Calato. “We want to be an active part of making the community better.”

One opportunity to give back was through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, the non-profit arm of the company that donates equipment, educational tools, scholarships and disaster support to communities where the sub shops are located.

The Calatos approached Winter Park Fire Chief James White with the idea of applying for a grant from the foundation.

“We went to White and asked him ‘What could you use, that hasn’t been budgeted for?’” Tom said.

The chief suggested that the fire department could use a fire safety house to take to local schools to help teach kids how to safely exit a house in the event of a fire.

“Together the chief and I applied for the grant [valued at $10,900] through the foundation, and we were very happy to have the grant approved,” Tom said.

The brightly colored, inflatable fire safety house attracted a lot of attention from passers-by as it went on display for the first time on the lawn of Winter Park City Hall Wednesday, Dec. 11.

The house features blow-up walls covered with easy to remember fire-safety tips and is equipped with a pump that can fill the house with simulated smoke to teach older kids how to get low in a fire. It has two exits doors and two windows kids can climb out of to practice their escape technique.

“It does look a bit like a bounce house,” Chief White said, “but that is intentional to draw people and kids in; they quickly become curious and want to learn what it’s all about.”

“This is going to be a huge hit with the schools,” said Deputy Fire Chief Pat McCabe, who came up with the idea to request the fire safety house.

“We plan to take this to schools during Fire Prevention Month in October as part of our educational program,” said Community Risk Reduction Specialist Susie Whitaker.

“It will be getting a lot of use as it makes the rounds of schools.”

In addition to visiting Winter Park schools, the new fire safety house will also make appearances at festivals and community gatherings where the fire department has been invited to participate, Whitaker said.