Bloomfield, N.J. —  Sept. 24 — On Wednesday afternoon, Bloomfield firemen went to a local library to hold a multilingual story time for members of the community. Firefighters Robert, Claudia, Joseph, and William read to children, sang songs, and demonstrated their equipment, allowing families to learn about firefighting in both English and another language.

The event emphasizes the importance of first responders as community educators, rather than merely emergency responders. Programs such as bilingual story times assist to break down barriers, create trust, and raise knowledge about fire safety in diverse neighborhoods. Many fire and library systems collaborate on similar activities, offering residents firsthand experience with fire department operations in a friendly, non-emergency context.