Every fire department in the Panther Valley School District participated in a Fire Prevention Week program at the district’s elementary school on Friday.

Firefighters and apparatus from Nesquehoning, Coaldale, Lansford and Summit Hill - the departments in the school district - had apparatus and personnel at the school.

Nesquehoning Fire Chief John McArdle led the program by giving students a brief history of firefighting, fire safety tips, the various components of firefighting gear and demonstrating some firefighting tools including an infrared heat detector.

After a program in the school auditorium, the students went to the playground area where firetrucks from all four departments were parked. The youngsters got close-up looks at the apparatus.

A highlight of the program was when a teacher was asked to extinguish a small, contained fire with an extinguisher. Second grade teacher Joanne Damian earned a round of applause from her students as she doused the blaze unassisted.

Four programs - one for each grade - were held at the school.

Assisting McArdle was Coaldale Fire Chief Steven Polischak.

Nesquehoning Chief of Police Mike Weaver also participated in the program.