Chief Richard Spofford and members of Boothbay Volunteer Fire Department opened the fire house doors on Friday, Oct. 15 to Boothbay Region Elementary School students from pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grades. The open house for young students was timed around Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 3-9. More than 100 students attend the four grades, with each grade scheduled for arrival at the station about 30 minutes apart.

According to Fire Department member Chantalle Arsenault, the students’ visit is a first and members of the department previously have spoken with students about fire prevention at the school. Students were shown firefighting equipment and protective clothing and treated to a visit from Sparky, the National Fire Prevention Association’s mascot.