Fire department open house draws hundreds

  • Published
  • By Butch Wehry
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  About 700 people attended the annual Fire Department Open House in Pine Valley's Fire Station 1 Aug. 8. 

"It was our chance to educate our community on common fire hazards," said Ernst Piercy, Academy fire chief." It gave the public opportunity to visit the fire station and see our equipment and to become educated on common fire hazards. 

In addition to community partners, attendees came from off-base as well. 

"The highlight was certainly the car accident demonstration, where fire fighters turned a wrecked car into a convertible to remove a simulated victim," said the fire chief. "In addition, we had puppet shows, our fire safety education trailer to teach crawling low in smoke, Smokey, Sparky and all kinds of trucks and equipment on display." 

In addition to the 25 firefighters putting on the event, the entire fire department staff helped plan, organize and prepare for the open house in the weeks leading up to the event. 

"In addition to our brand new fire truck, the children thoroughly enjoyed the new 'Fire Truck Bouncy House,'" Chief Piercy said. 

"Another highlight was when the Flight for Life helicopter landed and allowed the children to look around." The yearly open house not only educates base residents and employees, it also gives the public opportunity to meet the men and women who protect them on a daily basis. 

The event was also of interest to young wannabe fire fighters. 

"It provided an opportunity to have the public look at the many specialized facets of the modern fire protection career field, and gave the younger generation an idea of what is available to them for a potentially promising career," Chief Piercy said.