June 16--Daryl Akins struggled to tear his 6-year-old son Amare Akins from the Fire Museum of Memphis' new arcade Monday morning.
"Come on Amare," Akins said as he ushered his son, still reaching toward the game, into another room for a ceremony connected to the museum's newly-renovated arcade.
"They did a great job with the situations they put them in, especially with the school fire alarm because they'll know what it sounds like," he said about the interactive games. "If he's in the bathroom or separated from his class or the teacher and (the fire alarm) goes off, he'll know what's happening."
The museum, a nonprofit entity separate from the Memphis Fire Department, received a $481,740 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant in 2012. Part of that grant was used to renovate the eight-screen space for fire education.
During the grand reopening, museum officials also presented Shelby Oaks Elementary school with the Turn Out Award for having the most students show up to the museum.
Catherine Diezi, Shelby Oaks principal, said she encourages students to visit because they'll enjoy the experience.
"We typically don't send our older children," she said. "But now that they have this new technology, I'm going to encourage them as well."
Penny McKinney Smith, museum director, said the fire death rate was two-and-a-half times the national average when museum ground was broken in the mid-1990s. Smith said there were only four fire deaths in 2013, something she attributes to the work of firefighters and the museum.
"We call it edutainment," Smith said. "We educate and entertain at the same time. We want to make sure the children learn about fire safety and that we promote the rich history of the Memphis Fire Department."
After standing next to his principal to accept the Turn Out Award trophy, Amare, an upcoming Shelby Oaks first grader, raced back to finish his game.
"I learned to stay away from fire and call the fire department if you see one," he said.
The elder Akins stood over his shoulder and watched his son do a celebration dance after Amare got all the answers right.
"They need to make this for Xbox," the father said. "It'll be good to get the software out."
Copyright 2014 - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.
