Somerset Fire And Rescue Holds Annual Open House

Somerset Volunteer Fire and Rescue on Hollywood Avenue held its annual open house on Oct. 13.

By PJ Parker.

The Somerset Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company No. 1 held its annual open house Oct. 13 at its fire house on Hollywood Avenue.

The open house ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with fire and safety education, games, food and demonstrations, including how a truck would be lifted off someone trapped beneath it.

“It’s an opportunity for kids and parents to learn about fire safety and rescue,” said Deputy Chief John Gardner. “We do this so the community can be prepared in case of a fire or accident.”

“We show them about running their own fire drills, the importance of having two ways out of a building, how to ‘stop, drop and roll’ if fire catches on to them,” he said. “There’s a smoke room to teach kids and parents what to do in a smoke-filled room.”

“Somerset Fire and Rescue is a heavy rescue company,” he said. “We do extrications like when cars have to be cut to get someone out, confined space rescue, low- and high-angle, structural collapse, underwater search and recovery, and animal rescue, and we are totally volunteer.”

The company continually upgrades its equipment and training, including the advanced thermal imaging cameras, which can “see” through smoke to locate people, animals and fire hot spots behind walls.

“We have a great fire commission in Fire District 1,” he said. “They make sure we have the best of everything.”

Here are some scenes from the day:

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