Friday was a special day for the students of Courtney Elementary School, as they were paid a visit by firefighters with the Courtney Volunteer Fire Department. It was part of a fire safety program for students from pre-school to fifth-grade to teach them simple fire and safety tips.

In addition to firefighting equipment such as extinguishers, firefighters also transported to the school the Kid's Safety House, a mobile structure on loan from the Lewisville Fire Department. The structure, which is made up of several rooms -- among those rooms a kitchen, bedroom and living room -- was used for demonstration and education purposes.

From one room to the next, firefighters either explained or demonstrated how easily a fire can spread and how fast. In one such instance, in the bedroom, a water-based mist was pumped into the room; the mist simulated smoke from a fire.

"What do you do if there is smoke in your house?' asked Mike King.

King, seventh-grade student, plans on someday becoming a firefighter. He was helping conduct the demonstration.

One student answered, saying to stop, drop and roll.

"That's only if you're on fire," King said. When there is smoke, get out, fast."

The students participated in a fire drill, assisted by King, and were taught how to get out of the bedroom by exiting through a window.

As the went through the drill, fire chief Johnny Williard observed.

"The idea here is to instill fire safety so that the children will tell their parents at home," he said. "We want to educate the kids and they will, in turn, educate the parents. If we can save just one life, it is well worth it."

He said he believed this might be a bad year for home fires.

"With the present state of the economy, people are going to try to stay warm any way they can."

Many of the students did not know what some of the equipment was or where to locate it in their homes. A volunteer firefighter held up a fire extinguisher for seven second-grade students to see.

"Do you have one of these in your home?" he asked.

All seven students did not.

In another instance, students did not know what a smoke detector looked like, the best places to locate such a device, or even when and how to change batteries. Williard said the rule of thumb is to check smoke detectors once per month and changed twice per year. He added detectors at least 10 years old should be changed. New smoke detectors are available from local fire departments, and if needed, first assistant chief Harrell Caudle could personally install a detector for anyone who needed one.

In other events, students got to meet with Smokey Bear, Sparkey the Fire Dog and were handed fire safety packets with coloring book, pencil and safety tip booklet.

The day's event was made possible in a joint effort by Charles Collins of Moore-Moxley Insurance Agency, Trusted Choice Insurance Agents, and the Courtney Volunteer Fire Department. Also involved, in both personnel and equipment, where the Yadkinville Fire Department, the Lone Hickory Volunteer Fire Department, Yadkin County Sheriff's Department and the North Carolina Forestry Service.