By Tara Figurski
Staff Writer
The fourth annual Truro Township Fire Department open house will offer something for everyone.
The open house will be held Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station 162, 6305 E. Livingston Avenue, said Lt. Andy Wittenmeier.
Visitors can stop by a fire gear station as part of the open house.
“They can try on gear and get their photographs taken,” Wittenmeier said.
At the squirt house visitors can use a real fire hose with running water to shoot at cut out flames.
Kids can practice dragging a dummy through an obstacle course or crawl through the fire safety house and practice escaping from a fire.
“There is a smoke detector and non-toxic theatrical smoke kids can crawl underneath,” Wittenmeier said.
Another highlight of the event will be a live fire in a mock family room. The department will construct a living room similar to a living room you would find in a normal home, light the living room on fire and put it out, Wittenmeier said.
“It shows the progression of a fire and how quickly a fire can run through a house,” he said.
The Reynoldsburg Police Department SWAT team and Truro Township tactile emergency services team will also participate in the event. Tactile emergency services is a group of paramedics who work with the SWAT team.
“They are there to protect people at any kind of event the SWAT team is called in for,” Wittenmeier said.
Wittenmeier said one of his favorite parts of the open house is the ability to interact with the community. He anticipates about 200 people participating in the annual open house.
“It is nice to spend more time with the community and show them what we do and how we operate,” he said.
He said interacting with the community is an essential part of Truro Township Fire Department’s responsibilities. The fire department makes a concerted effort to participate in events like the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival and parades and recently participated in the Reynolds Police Department open house.
The Reynoldsburg Police Department motorcycle unit, Ohio Fire Marshal dogs, Med Flight and Air Evac will participate in the open house. Air Evac will land a helicopter during the open house and Med Flight will bring its mobile intensive care unit.
Home Depot will be on site with craft projects for kids and station tours. There will also be free hot dogs, chips and bottled water.
