A Service of WXXV FOX 25 18 January 2008, Friday Free Fire Extinguisher Classes FREE FIRE EXTINGUISHER CLASSES OFFERED Vital Training Open to All GULFPORT, MS (January 5, 2008) The City of Gulfport's Fire Prevention Bureau is offering FREE fire extinguisher classes to businesses, community watch groups, Scout troops, religious congregations, etc. In November, 2007, the Fire Prevention Bureau acquired The BullEx™ System for citizen training. It is propane-fueled and operates on water and air pressure to extinguish the flames, making it perfect for training purposes. Says Fire Chief Pat Sullivan, "We can not stress enough the importance of people learning how to properly use fire extinguishers. The immediate use of an extinguisher while a fire is small and can be controlled saves lives and reduces major property damage. This training will help protect the lives and property of our citizens." In the past, a diesel/gasoline mixture was ignited in wash tubs. This was not environmentally friendly or safe to handle. Cleanup was difficult and presented disposal problems. Also, those wanting to attend a fire extinguisher class had to provide their own extinguishers - then have them refilled and serviced. No wonder people were hesitant to take advantage of any free training offered. Now cleanup is very quick and minimal. And with BullEx, there are no hazardous fumes or disposal concerns. It provides extremely accurate training scenarios with three levels of difficulty and trains people on all three types of fires. This vital fire extinguisher training is open to everyone at no cost. To schedule a class, please contact the Gulfport Fire Department at 228-868-5950. For more information about the Fire Prevention Bureau, or to schedule an interview with Fire Chief Pat Sullivan, please contact his office at 228-868-5954. Orchid Show Please include the following info in the event calendar, The Gulf Coast Orchid Society will be holding the annual Orchid Show and plant sale at Singing River Mall. Beautiful exhibits constructed by the commercial dealers and Orchid Societies from Mississippi and across the country enhancing our show. Times and Dates: Feb 15 - 12 PM to 9 PM Feb 16 - 9 AM to 9 PM Feb 17 - 12 PM to 5:30 PM Contact info is Glen and Marilyn Ladnier 228-392-0919, Gladnier@yahoo.com Mississippi Coastal Primary/Mental Health Collaborative Mississippi Coastal Primary/Mental Health Collaborative The Interfaith Disaster Task Force (IDTF) is hosting a collaborative meeting at DeMiller Hall in Biloxi on Friday, January 18th from 10 – 11:30 am which will focus on primary and mental health issues. The collaborative is a venue for sharing information on direct services, projects, and research that address primary/mental health needs on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is made up of individuals who represent local nonprofits, mental health centers, foundations, local colleges and other community-based settings where residents received disaster recovery and mental health services. This month’s meeting will have special presentations on the following: Community Resilience Grant Recipients, including an update on Long Term Recovery Patterns from Katrina, a 5-yr. Research Project. This collaborative is open to the public. For information or registration, please call 228-432-9310 or email info@msidtf.org. For questions regarding this calendar, contact: Deidre Pyron Licensed To: WXXV Fox Television