Live fire demonstration Saturday

Though the weekend will already have plenty of activities, with the annual Gift of the Waters Pageant Days and Big Horn Basin Folk Festival, the public is also invited to learn about fire safety.

Thermopolis Volunteer Firefighter James Coates said a live fire demonstration will be put on by the fire department’s Public Relations Committee; the committee is working to do more outreach and communication.

The demonstration will feature two separate 8-foot-side cube spaces, set up like teenagers’ rooms. The only difference is one is also equipped with a sprinkler system. In addition to showing the destructiveness of a home fire, Coates said the demonstration will also demonstrate how quickly sprinkler systems work, and hopefully clear up some misconceptions about what they do. There will be some time after the demonstration for any questions.

Though a likely scenario for a fire starting in a teen’s bedroom would be candle not being put out, for the purpose of the demonstration the fires will begin in wastebaskets full of paper.

The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 in Hot Springs State Park, near the Park Street entrance, following the Gift of the Waters Parade. Also following the parade, the fire hall will host an open house, with hot dogs and cold drinks for refreshments.