It’ll be parked in a strategic location on the fairgrounds as the Russell Fire Department aims for maximum exposure of its fire prevention programs.

Manning the top-of-the-line trailer, department volunteers will be present for the duration of the fair, handing out information and paying particular attention to fireproofing youngsters.

Starting from an empty shell, much of the labour in putting together the unit was provided by many of those same volunteers.

They’re proud of the role it has played in reducing emergency calls so far this year.

Chief Bruce Armstrong says the rig is the most modern and complete piece of prevention equipment of the kind in Eastern Ontario.

It’s often requisitioned by neighbouring municipalities at a cost ranging as high as $500 a day, including an operator from the Russell department

Completed two years ago at a cost of $42,000 in cash, donated materials and labour, the trailer is divided into three sections. It includes mini theatre/living room with fireplace where children and their parents can watch prevention messages while learning about heating hazards and how to respond to smoke detectors; demonstration kitchen where the kids are taught to be wary around stoves; and child’s bedroom where they’re put through the basics of escaping fires in the home.

From a control booth in the trailer, artificial smoke can be emitted into the bedroom in order to teach kids how to crawl below it.

“Kids think it’s great and parents are really impressed,” Armstrong said, estimating it would cost at least $100,000 to purchase a similar piece of equipment commercially made.

Armstrong is in part crediting his department’s intense educational and inspection programs for a dramatic drop in emergency calls.

While there are still four months left in 2009, the calls are trending downwards in every category including fire, medical, motor vehicle accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials such as gas leaks, chemical spills and carbon monoxide alarms.

Looking back over this decade through 2008, total annual calls in all categories have ranged from a high in 2003 of 151 to a low of 107.

To date, the average is 116 calls a year since 2000. All totals include a percentage of false alarms.

For the first eight months of 2009, there have only been 44 calls, including several false alarms. Calls for fire response sit at 24, for medical reasons at 11, for hazardous materials six, and for collisions just three.

While the news is very good, it doesn’t allow Russell’s volunteer fire service to sit back and take it easy, the chief emphasized.

“Our approach is to be proactive, vigilant and highly visible in the community reminding residents of their responsibilities in helping us to keep going in the right direction.”

Programs include school visits and door-to-door smoke detector inspections.

An open air burn bylaw introduced by the township about five years ago has been instrumental in curbing spring grass fires, the source of several annual calls, the chief said.

Crediting Russell residents with “buying into” the proactive approach, Armstrong said events such as the fair and the recent annual fire department main street boot toll for muscular dystrophy not only support the cause — more than $5,000 raised this time out — but keep prevention in the public eye.