Meet Pluggie the Fire Plug.
He’s three feet, five inches tall, battery powered and has plenty of personality.
Pluggie, an educational robot, is also the newest member of Puslinch Fire and Rescue Services.
On Jan. 13 Pluggie met with students at Aberfoyle Public School as his official introduction to the community.
Kindergarten to Grade 3 students loudly expressed their excitement as Pluggie “came to life” at the front of the gymnasium. Students used their “outside voices” to wake Pluggie to get on with the show.
The laughter and excitement in the kids’ voices was clear, even before Pluggie’s sirens went off.
During the robot’s visit with Aberfoyle students, he offered safety messages such as the need for fire escape plans.
Later, students were able to walk up and interact directly with Pluggie.
“Pluggie is our new addition to our fire department,” said Puslinch Fire and Rescue Services’ chief fire prevention officer Jason Benn.
He explained Pluggie is an educational robot, originating from Robotronics in Utah.
“We are very proud to say we are unveiling Pluggie for the first time in Ontario,” said Benn.
He noted Pluggie is currently the only device of its kind in Ontario, “and we are very proud to provide him to this school and area schools to teach fire safety, such as what to do in case of fire; stop, drop and roll to smother a fire.”
Benn said, “We were trying to seek out a public education avenue where we could reach the community in a meaningful way and get our messages across – but in an interactive way.”
He said after considerable research, he discovered Pluggie at Robotronics.
The company indicated “if we purchased this, it would be the first of its kind in Ontario.”
Benn said he told the fire chief Pluggie would be a great tool to use not only in Puslinch but throughout Wellington County – to get valuable fire messages out to families.
At a cost $7,000, the Puslinch fire department was able to get funding from various businesses and groups in the area, including major contributions from:
– Optimist Club of Puslinch;
– Capital Paving; and
– Jeffrey and Spence Insurance.
Benn stressed there were many other contributors.
Pluggie is guided by a firefighter who wears a headset and operates the robot in an area where he cannot be seen. The operator can hear the children’s questions through the headset, and interact through the remote microphone to provide good messages
Pluggie rolls all over the place, he talks, has his siren, and rolls his eyes.
At present, the Puslinch department is in the midst of creating a program in which to interact with the kids and present safety messages.
Benn said firefighter Graham Ross has done a very good job learning to run the unit and speaking through it.
More than likely, Ross will be doing this on a regular basis.
“We’re in the preliminary stages of introducing Pluggie to the community,” Benn said, adding officials hope the robot will be an educational tool everyone can enjoy.
“Pluggie has a busy year ahead of him, as you can expect to meet him in school classrooms, assemblies, fire station tours, mall exhibits, fairs or any other setting where our safety message can be presented,” said Benn.
He added, “Pluggie is just the right size for teaching small children. He can communicate on their level, both emotionally and physically.”
Fire educators can customize their presentation to suit the audience of the day.
“Puslinch Firefighters would like to thank local businesses and service clubs for their generous donations,” said Benn.
“Pluggie, a first of his kind in Ontario and only the second teaching robot in the Fire Services in Canada, will help us in the development of exciting and interactive Life Fire Safety Programs for Puslinch residents and the surrounding communities.”
A plaque containing the names of everyone who contributed to the project will be made up and placed in public view.
