July 1, 2016

Donation to Provide New Fire Safety Education Tool

The Kingsport Fire Department received a check to buy a new Sparky. Sparky is their remote control dog in a fire engine that is used to teach kids about fire safety. I attended the announcement and was able to meet the current Sparky.



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A donation will allow the Kingsport Fire Department to purchase a new safety education tool.

Sparky is the department’s robotic fire safety dog. He’s used to teach children.

Unfortunately, the dog is wearing from age after 10 years of use. A $12,000 donation from Domtar will allow a new Sparky to be purchased.

"Sparky's always a big hit when we're out anywhere,” Public Education Officer Barry Brickey said. “Kids want to come up and say, 'Hi'. They want to talk to him, and one of the really funny things is sometimes I'll have small children say, 'I know you're the one controlling him,’ and I'll tell them, 'Yeah, but Sparky doesn't know that.'"

The new Sparky will be custom made to match the department's fire engines.

The dog is expected to arrive in about five to six weeks.

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