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CAROGA?- The Caroga Lake Volunteer Fire Company conducted its 24th Annual Kids Fire Prevention and Safety Day on Thursday, hosting more than 50 children and their counselors from the town's Summer Youth Recreation Program.

The all-day educational event at the Wheelerville firehouse teaches fire and life safety skills to local and visiting elementary school-aged children enrolled in the town recreation program.

Topics included?protecting yourself and others from fire and other emergencies at home and elsewhere; how to react if you become lost in the woods; and awareness of potential stranger-danger and protection from strangers, both in person and by e-mail.

The Southern Adirondack Fire Prevention Team discussed how to react if there's a fire, and the Hagaman Volunteer Fire Department used its Kids' Safety Trailer to teach and demonstrate how home protection equipment works.

Johnstown Police Officer Adam Schwabrow and K-9 Spike demonstrated Spike's skills, including searches and criminal apprehension.

The Ambulance Service of Fulton County demonstrated equipment used on ambulances to monitor and care for people requiring medical attention.

Caroga firefighters displayed fire and rescue apparatus, and Smokey the Bear from the state Department of Environmental Conservation visited.

This year's presenters included the Johnstown Police Department; Investigator Christina VanValkenburgh of the Fulton County Sheriff's Department; Ranger John Ploss of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; John Houle Sr. and Richard Nichols of the Southern Adirondack Fire Prevention Team; Capt. Larry Dawson, Britney Dawson and Larry Dawson Jr. of the Hagaman Volunteer Fire Department; and EMT/Paramedic Dwayne Gallt and EMT Chuck Cassaro of the Ambulance Service of Fulton County.

After lunch, the event culminated with pumping demonstrations using the fire company's fire hoses to cool down the children.