This FDNY Fire Zone Review is one of our many reviewed things to do in NYC. Visiting New York? See all of our posts tagged NYC.
We visited the FDNY Fire Zone for the first time not long ago, even though we've been in NYC for years. I only discovered it while looking through my 2013 Entertainment Book for NYC, which I got with a few leftover Wyndham Rewards points, after having transferred all my other Wyndham Rewards points into United MileagePlus and American AAdvantage miles.
Visiting the FDNY Fire Zone itself is free, but there is a small charge for the Fire Simulation Presentation (more on that later) of $6 per person (adult or child).
As soon as you enter, your kid will likely race into the fire truck prominently parked on the right. Fortunately, there's room for 3 kids there, although they'll each want to take a turn driving and operating the various controls.
On the left side, the wall is literally covered with fire fighting helmuts and equipment:
The retired firefighter who was manning the Fire Zone when we were there explained the equipment and gear, and even helped the munchkin into a firefighter's coat and helmut, which were amazingly heavy. And the boots? Well, you'd get a ton of exercise just walking around in them, and no worries if anyone drops anything on them, thanks to the steel toes.
The real highlight for all of us, however, was the Fire Simulation Presentation. We were amazed when what had seemed to be the back wall rose, akin to a garage door, to reveal a horrific fire scene, complete with smoke:
It's no wonder that the Fire Zone does not permit children under five to participate in the fire simulation, because it could be scary for a child that young. Even the munchkin, who is getting close to 6, was disturbed at times by some of the videos. But it's also good that he gained a healthy respect for uncontained fire, and he certainly knew what to do by the end of the demonstration, which was really more a conversation as we were the only ones there at the time. Presentations are given every half hour in the afternoons until 5:30pm Monday-Saturday, and until 3:30pm Sunday.
Here are screenshots from one of the most compelling videos, about a girl and her young brother who inadvertently started a fire, then hid in a closet because they were worried their parents would be angry:
At the end of the fire simulation, you test the doors to find one that's not hot, and actually crawl underneath simulated smoke to get out.
The Verdict: The FDNY Fire Zone is a great kid-friendly stop if you're near Rockefeller Center. And if you have kids 5 or older, it's well worth getting tickets for the Fire Simulation presentation. The immersive set, with items actually destroyed by fire, and the videos of fire survivors makes for a much more vivid and engrossing experience than the more usual fire safety demonstrations.
Have you been to the FDNY Fire Zone and experienced the fire simulation?
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