WILTON — Cushing School first-graders have homework: Learn their addresses and phone numbers in case they need to call 911.

That was the assignment from Fire Rescue Chief Sonny Dunham at a fire safety talk at the fire station Thursday during Fire Prevention Week.

Some students stepped up to use a simulated 911 emergency response system and did fine answering questions until they were asked their addresses.

“I don’t know my address,” one boy said into the telephone.

Dunham gave the boys and girls the ins and outs of fire safety and prevention.

“We have had some problems in town with kids playing with matches,” Dunham said. “That’s a no, no.”

Firefighters have also responded to a number of houses that have not had smoke detectors or they haven’t had batteries in them.

Batteries need to be in the detectors and changed at least once a year, Dunham said. A good time to change them is when you turn clocks back in the fall or forward in the spring, he said.

When a smoke alarm goes off at night, Dunham told the children they should get down on the floor, put a hand on a door and if its hot, don’t open it, keep it closed.

“The minute fire gets air it expands,” he said.

Children should not hide in closets or under the bed during a fire, he said.

“Firefighters will come to get you,” Dunham said. When they do, he said, they will sound different because they will have full helmets on and will be using a breathing system.

Capts. Thom Walker and Bob Burdick, both in full gear, got down on the floor and crawled around showing the children what firefighters would be doing and how they would sound if they came to get them

Once someone is outside, they need to go to the designated meeting place.

As Dunham asked what-should-you-do scenarios, children gave all the right answers. They had the class previously for two years in a row. They knew how to stop, drop and roll and a couple demonstrated the movement. They covered their eyes and told Dunham it was so their eyes wouldn’t get burned.

Dunham gave them words of advice on not to touch matches or lighters of any kind.

He also explained the dangers of candles and leaving them unattended. It’s best if candles are placed on a plate or metal to prevent direct contact with a counter or surface. Make sure parents blow out the candles before going out or going to bed, he said.

“We’ve had two fires this year because of candles,” Dunham said.

Students also had a chance to look through the department’s thermal-imaging camera. The lights in the room were shut off and teacher Lisa Gagnon crouched down in the corner of the room. Children crowded around Burdick and the camera to look through it to see the heat imprint of her.

Then it was time for cookies and milk. Dunham said teachers would be bringing plastic firefighter helmets back to school for each one of them and a little bag of goodies that included a coloring book.

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