Newsroom

Date:07/31/03

THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE THAT OFFERS SO MUCH FUN, EXCITEMENT, ENTERTAINMENT and EDUCATION; THE ILLINOIS FIRE & LIFE SAFETY TENT AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR

SPRINGFIELD, IL, July 31, 2003 - There is always something fun, exciting, entertaining and educational to see at the Illinois Fire and Life Safety Tent at the Illinois State Fair which runs August 8-17, 2003 in Springfield.

Come and see Firefighters perform Rope Rescue Demonstrations from aerial ladders, watch how firefighters use the jaws of life to cut away mangled up vehicles during the auto extrication demonstrations and see E.D.I.T.H. the clown get frazzled and dazzled in the fire safety DATING game. Thanks to all the firefighters throughout Illinois, there are so many things to see and do this year at the Fire and Life Safety Tent.

Children can dunk a firefighter at the Risk Watch Dunk Tank; and practice the P.A.S.S. system with pretend fire extinguishers, and they can learn how to safely escape a fire in the home at the Children's Fire Safety Trailer. Inside the tent, children can get their faces painted as they learn how to "STOP, DROP and ROLL, or become a contestant in GAME SHOW JEOPARDY. The tent is opened each day from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Parents and seniors can cool off and get their blood pressure checked, while the rest of the family takes a step back in time to see antique fire service memorabilia at the Illinois Fire Museum. The museum, located in a fire station built in 1938, houses an authentic 1857 horse drawn hand pumper, complete with water buckets. The antique pumper is parked next to a shiny brass fire pole once used by state fairgrounds firefighters. A fully restored 1939 Diamond T Pumper, donated by the Beardstown Fire Department has also taken up residence at the museum along with a replica of the 1948 Ford used by the old state fairgrounds fire department.

For more information or to arrange special tours, please contact the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Public Information Office at (217) 785-1021.

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