PPL Montana employees teach important fire safety lessons

Tom Cordova, a 21-year veteran of the Colstrip power plant, spends his spare time educating the community that there is no “clowning” around when it comes to fire.

But that doesn't mean that his students don't have fun learning about fire safety. With a head of colorful hair and a red nose, the journeyman systems operator transforms himself into “Nozzle the Clown.”

Accompanied by “Gilroy the Geek” — aka Jerry Blythe, technology support specialist at the plant — Cordova visits nursery schools, preschools and elementary schools to teach children how to act in case of fire.

Jerry Blythe (right), another Colstrip employee, regularly joins Cordova as Gilroy the Geek on visits to schools.

Cordova is the safety officer for the town’s volunteer fire department. Several years ago he visited children in the burn center at Deaconess Hospital in Billings and decided to help teach fire safety.

He remembered there was once a clown who would visit classrooms to teach fire safety and decided to assume the role.

“I realized it was time to bring in the clown,” he said. “If I can keep one child from being injured by fire, then I will have done my job.”

During the past 10 years as Nozzle the Clown, Cordova has educated students about life-saving techniques such as stop, drop and roll and staying low to the ground. He also teaches about the importance of designating in advance a meeting place in case of a fire.

Nozzle the Clown is a favorite at schools where he teaches children what to do in case of a fire.

He also addresses a common issue — children frightened by what he calls the “unknown firefighter.” Cordova asks a fellow firefighter, who also is a student’s father, to attend the school presentations. The father then slowly dresses in his firefighting attire to show the children that firefighters “are people just like their fathers.”

The programs have been well-received at home and outside of Colstrip. Nozzle the Clown is routinely called on for repeat performances and children from other communities often get bused in to see the informative show he puts on.

He also performs for senior citizens, covering topics such as cooking safety and safety tips when working around hot ovens and stoves. Other subjects include the risk of cooking while wearing loose-fitting clothing like a bathrobe, the danger of hot pot handles and how to tell if a surface is hot. 

“Nozzle the Clown helps me deliver important safety messages to people of all ages,” Cordova said. “In a fun and entertaining way, I can help people be safe.”