FREDDIE FIRE TRUCK MAKES UNOFFICIAL DEBUT TO SUPRISE KIDS

Freddie the Fire Truck made his first public appearance in Cape Girardeau Wednesday, delighting youngsters at the Safety Village.

Freddie's size may have something to do with his popularity. He weighs about 80 pounds and is 3-foot tall.

Freddie is a fully animated robot that moves, speaks, listens, plays audio cassettes tapes, and sounds his siren and flashes his red lights, all by remote control.

The robot can wink, blink, open and close his eyes, and with his smiling face captures the attention of any youngster.

Although he looks, acts, and sounds like a toy, Freddie is definitely not a toy, says Mark Hasheider, a training officer with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.

"He is a highly complex robot capable of many tasks. Freddie will be another valuable educational tool for the fire department in our fire safety and fire prevention education programs for children," said Hasheider. "We feel Freddie will be the link, or bridge, between the world of the child and that of the adult when we present fire safety and fire prevention programs to children."

Hasheider said Freddie instantly attracts the attention of children because he is child-size. Once he has their full attention, Freddie delivers his fire safety and fire prevention message.

He can also talk to a child on a personal, one-on-one basis. "A youngster who is talking and listening to Freddie is devoting his complete attention to him, and what he has to say," said Hasheider. "Hopefully, the child retains the message Freddie presents much better than if it came from a firefighter or adult."

While younger children are fascinated by the animated character of Freddie, Hasheider says even older, elementary school children will find Freddie interesting because of their interest in and knowledge of video games, computers and other high-tech items.

Freddie is operated by radio remote control. His voice is provided by a firefighter using a remote radio transmitter and a receiver mounted inside Freddie.

Hasheider said pre-school and young elementary school-age children are especially fascinated by the talking fire truck. That was evident when Freddie paid a surprise visit to students at the Safety Village Wednesday morning.

When Freddie rolled onto the tiny streets in the Safety Village, all activity stopped. Every youngster's eyes were focused on the tiny red fire truck as it traveled around the Safety Village with its siren wailing and red lights flashing.

"We expect Freddie is going to have a very busy schedule this fall and winter," said Hasheider. "He will be appearing at public events and attractions where there is a large number of adults and children. He will also be visiting schools in October during Fire Prevention Month, and will participate in local parades."

Hasheider said Freddie's first official public appearance will be on Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the West Park Mall's Building Blocks for Better Health program.

Freddie will also help Cape Girardeau firefighters in their annual Muscular Dystrophy Association "Firefighter's Boot" fund drive Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart store.

"I want to encourage parents to bring their children out to meet and talk with Freddie," said Fire Chief Gene Hindman. "I know they will be thrilled to see him."

Hindman said the reaction of his 3-year-old grandson, Matthew, after meeting Freddie for the first time made him realize how important the little red robot fire truck will be to the fire department's fire safety and prevention education program for children. "With Freddie, we have another important tool to reach young children on their level with the message of fire safety and fire prevention," the chief said.

Hindman said Freddie the Fire Truck is an outgrowth of the Partners Against Fire project involving the fire department and the Cape Girardeau Zonta Club. The fire safety and education project was funded by a two-year state grant to the local Zonta Club.

Dorothy Gilbert, project director and member of the Zonta Club, said the club wanted to find some way to continue its fire safety education work with children.

"We looked around at some different ideas and found Freddie the Fire Truck," said Gilbert. "We decided to make it a project of the club to help the fire department obtain the $5,300 in donations to purchase Freddie."

The fund raising began in March 1989. Gilbert said it was a low-key affair, in which business, corporate and individual donations were solicited. She said the donations came from individuals and organizations.

"It took us several years to get Freddie, but now we have him, and we're just thrilled to death," she said. "It is going to be an educational tool that will be well received by the children. I think it's going to put the child's interest where we want it on fire safety and prevention."

Gilbert and Hindman expressed their thanks to all who contributed to the fund drive. "We think everyone will get a reward out of this," said Gilbert. "If Freddie saves the life of just one child because of his fire safety and prevention message, it will have been worth all the effort, and more."

The robot was manufactured by Robotronics, Inc. of Spanish Fork, Utah, which has created a number of other types of educational robots.

Hasheider said day-care centers, pre-schools or elementary schools in the city that would like to schedule a visit by Freddie should contact the fire department at 334-3211.