Visitors of all ages climbed around the department’s fire apparatus and looked over the equipment it carries. Children tried on junior-sized firefighter gear, including boots, and went home with department hats. At the hose station, young visitors took turns aiming a stream of water at a cutout house, with firefighters helping them steady the line.
Safety lessons were part of the day. The Union County Kids Safety House taught children about the dangers of playing with matches, how to stop, drop and roll if clothing catches fire, why a home escape plan matters and how to call 9-1-1.
Volunteer firefighter Bill Vignalli demonstrated a rope-and-pulley rescue, showing how crews can lift a victim out of a hole and the training and equipment such a rescue requires.
Members also spoke about what it takes to join. New volunteers complete roughly 350 hours of training before they are certified to ride on a fire apparatus. Although the department is all volunteer, its members must meet state training and certification requirements, and recruiting and keeping volunteers remains important to keeping the department ready to respond.
Members of the William Paca Club, including Mayor Al Morgan, cooked and served hot dogs to visitors.
