TAKE A VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP TO COCHRANE FIRE STATION 151

Cochrane Fire Services is now offering an exclusive behind the scenes look at one of the Town’s most loved facilities with the launch of their new interactive 360º virtual tour of the Protective Services Centre.

The virtual tour combines video, pictures and text to take visitors inside each section of the hall, as well as fire trucks and apparatus and crew equipment and gear. The tour is self guided — click to enter or exit rooms and equipment and use the cursor to change viewpoint and angles.

Fire Prevention Officer Jeff Avery said all fire station tours have been suspended for now, but that doesn’t mean education has to stop.

Under normal circumstances, members of the public could request a tour to meet the local firefighters and learn about fire prevention and fire safety. That isn’t an option now — the fire station is currently closed to all but on-duty firefighters.

“It’s very unusual that we can’t have people inside the fire hall right now,” he said. “We know this is tough, especially for those younger members of our community that really enjoy coming to the station and getting to see where we live and work.”

“We were trying to find ways to stay connected with the community and say thank you to everyone who has been offering support to first responders over the past few months. This virtual tour allows us to share the inner workings of the department and continue our fire prevention education at a distance.”

Residents can take the virtual tour anytime by visiting cochrane.ca/FirePrevention.