Hanover Fire has found a unique way to teach children about fire safety.

Fire Prevention Officer Gary Kehler explains the program is called Traveling Sparky and the idea was that Sparky wants to come over for a sleepover, but the house has to be safe.

Alice Schellenberg (Grade 2 teacher), Jordanna Kehler and Sparky. (Photo credit: Gary Kehler)

"We tweaked the idea a little bit due to hygiene and other concerns with Sparky going home," notes Kehler. "So Sparky actually stays at school with the kid for the day and the kid becomes the handler. With that, then the backpack goes home with the student every night."

Kehler says the backpack includes a game, toy, information package and a fire safety checklist parents go over with their child. He adds they are trying to work with the kids to educate the parents. Kehler says the program is also a great way of giving kids a knowledge base of why fire safety is important and they can continue to build up on that knowledge base as they get older.

"If you get a Grade 2 student going to their grandparents and saying, 'Grandma and Grandpa, you don't have a working smoke alarm, I can't stay here for night.' That will go a lot farther than if I come in the house and say, 'look Mr. and Mrs. So-And-So, you don't have a smoke alarm, you're house isn't overly safe.' But you get that Grade 2 grandchild in there, that's huge."

Kehler notes parents have said the program has been a good reminder to check smoke alarms and home escape plans. He says this is currently a pilot program and they have only completed one class but are working in the second class and are hoping to continue the program throughout the municipality.

Ms. Alice Schellenberg's Grade 2 class celebrated the completion of the Traveling Sparky program with a pizza party.