Groveland Fire Department Assists With Fire Extinguisher Training for A.W. Chesterton Company

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Groveland Fire Department Assists With Fire Extinguisher Training for A.W. Chesterton Company

GROVELAND –  As part of Fire Prevention Week, Chief Robert Lay is pleased to report that the Groveland Fire Department helped conduct fire extinguisher training this week with A.W. Chesterton Company, the town’s largest business and biggest employer.

Fire Prevention Week is runs through Saturday, Oct. 10.

In the hands-on activity, Chesterton employees were given the chance to put out a real training fire with a fire extinguisher.

Under the watchful eye of the Fire Department, Anthony Laber, an occupational hygienist at Chesterton, lit a small container of diesel fuel on fire and then demonstrated how to correctly use a fire extinguisher. Employee then took turns with the extinguisher.

“While Chesterton teaches evacuation and not firefighting on site, many employees have fire extinguishers at home, on their boat and in their car and are interested in them,” Laber said. “This training not only taught the principles of fire extinguishers, and how to use them, but provided the opportunity to put out a fire in a controlled environment. The importance of this training was further emphasized by the presence of Groveland Fire Chief Robert Lay and the Groveland Fire Department.”

Chief Lay was on scene yesterday to help guide employees through the procedure and answer questions.

“Fire prevention is a priority for me and the Groveland Fire Department. Additionally, October is all about creating awareness so businesses and families are prepared for an emergency situation,” Chief Lay said. “With Chesterton being our largest employer in town, it is extremely important for us to offer assistance in fire prevention to help ensure the business can continue to flourish.”

Laber stressed to his employees that while it is good to know how to use an extinguisher, putting out a fire should be left to firefighters and employees should focus on evacuating the building if one were to occur on site. The Groveland Fire Department should always be contacted if there is a fire.

Linda Loreth, Director of Environmental, Health and Safety at Chesterton, said fire prevention is critical work that saves lives and prevents property damage, while eliminating unnecessary impacts on the environment.

“Fire Chief Lay has been very supportive of Chesterton’s prevention work and actively seeks site information, as well as provides input for our activities,” Loreth said.

Based in Groveland, Chesterton is recognized as the leading international manufacturer of industrial fluid sealing systems, high performance protective coatings, cleaners, lubricants and specialty industrial maintenance products to the steel industry.

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