West Penn Elementary School students had a lot of questions for firefighters from the West Penn Township Fire Co. No. 1., who visited them Friday for Fire Prevention Week.

Youngsters asked where water is stored on trucks, what firefighters use chainsaws for, and why there are different sizes of hose.

Firefighters were happy to answer.

“It’s something the kids really enjoy and we enjoy doing it,” said Rick Mertz, assistant chief of the all-volunteer fire company.

Fire personnel arrived in the morning, but not in their personal vehicles. Instead, they rolled in on fire trucks, a brush truck, a fire police vehicle and a ladder truck.

They parked the apparatus in the school’s parking lot, and students were invited outside for a firsthand look.

Fire personnel also spent time with the students in the school’s gymnasium, informing them on how to call 911, how to safely escape their bedrooms in the event of a fire, and how to “stop, drop and roll” if their clothing catches fire. They also showed their gear, and had a few students — and a teacher — wear everything from boots to helmets.

“The kids got a kick out of that,” Mertz said.

And as a special surprise, the fire department arranged to have a medical helicopter from Lehigh Valley Health Network land on the school’s front lawn.

Children cheered — and a group of them ceased practicing the “stop, drop and roll” technique they learned earlier — as they watched the helicopter approach.

The school day ended — appropriately — with a fire drill.

The Penn Mahoning Ambulance and East Penn Township Fire Company also brought vehicles.

Throughout the week, the West Penn company made stops at several local day care centers to present similar programs.