Watch Hill Fire Department Annual Fire Prevention and Fire Safey Night Hosts 400 Visitors
 
By Chief Jason Simmons
August 3, 2011
 

The Watch Hill Fire Department held its annual Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Night Open House on Wednesday August 3rd at the Watch Hill Fire House. The event featured antique fire apparatus and equipment, a smoke trailer, refreshments, and many educational displays. The children also enjoyed visiting with Smokey Bear as well as Sparky the Fire Dog, his wife Blaze the Fire Dog, and their son Junior Sparky driving a robotic fire truck. This event has quickly become one of the most popular childrens event in the Watch Hill community. The open house allows the children and adults to meet the local firefighters while enjoying refreshments and learning about fire safety.

We appreciate the efforts of all of the firefighters and volunteers that worked very hard to make this event a sucess and we extend our thanks and appreciation to the many fire departments and individual owners that sent fire apparatus to the event. A special thank you to Captain Jane Fair for her efforts to prepare and coordinate the event and to Nick Zabawar for providing the attached photos.

Antique fire trucks attending the event included trucks from the East Greenwich Veterans Fire Museum, the Cranston Volunteer Firefighters Museum, the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Museum, the Quimbaug Volunteer Fire Department, the Watch Hill Hose & Engine Company, and the Cyclone Engine Company and Rhode Island Ones Engine Company of the Westerly Fire Department.

Privately owned trucks attending included antique trucks owned by Richard and Jane Fletcher, Dan and Rebecca Schilke, and Bob Peacock.

In service trucks attending included vehicles from the Watch Hill Fire Department, the Misquamicut Fire Department, the Dunns Corners Fire Department, the Westerly Ambulance Corps, and the Westerly Police Department.

The 2012 Fire Preventionn and Fire Safety Night Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 1st from 6 PM to 8 PM. We hope to see you all again!
 
Smokey Bear gets checked out in the back of the Westerly Ambulance by first responder Joanna Moon. Smokey wanted to make sure that children knew not to be afraid of the ambulance if they got hurt and needed to be taken to the hospital.
Smokey Bear gets checked out in the back of the Westerly Ambulance by first responder Joanna Moon. Smokey wanted to make sure that children knew not to be afraid of the ambulance if they got hurt and needed to be taken to the hospital.
One of our many young visitors tries his luck at putting out the fire with a hose line
One of our many young visitors tries his luck at putting out the fire with a hose line
 
Another future firefighter takes his turn trying on the fire chiefs coat and firefighters helmet.
Another future firefighter takes his turn trying on the fire chiefs coat and firefighters helmet.
The children were especially impressed with the big and shiny blue fire truck that was brought by the Cranston Volunteer Firefighters Museum.
The children were especially impressed with the big and shiny blue fire truck that was brought by the Cranston Volunteer Firefighters Museum.
 
Blaze the Fire Dog (visiting courtesy of the Hope Valley Wyoming Fire Department) says hello to Sparky Junior (visiting courtesy of the Rhode Island State Fire Marshals Office)
Blaze the Fire Dog (visiting courtesy of the Hope Valley Wyoming Fire Department) says hello to Sparky Junior (visiting courtesy of the Rhode Island State Fire Marshals Office)
Lieutenant Tim LaQuerre and Firefighter Ken Bloom review kitchen fire safety tips before leading one of many groups of children through the smoke filled portion of the Fire Safety trailer. Over two hundred and fifty children went through the safety trailer program during the Open House event.
Lieutenant Tim LaQuerre and Firefighter Ken Bloom review kitchen fire safety tips before leading one of many groups of children through the smoke filled portion of the Fire Safety trailer. Over two hundred and fifty children went through the safety trailer program during the Open House event.
 
Watch Hill Engine 103, an antique 1984 Ford fire truck with a 1000 gallon per minute two stage pump and a separate high pressure pump, stands ready in front of the fire station to meet guests.
Watch Hill Engine 103, an antique 1984 Ford fire truck with a 1000 gallon per minute two stage pump and a separate high pressure pump, stands ready in front of the fire station to meet guests.
Sparky the Fire Dog (visiting courtesy of the Rhode Island State Fire Marshals Office) meets and greets the children as they arrive.
Sparky the Fire Dog (visiting courtesy of the Rhode Island State Fire Marshals Office) meets and greets the children as they arrive.
 
This truck, formerly the primary response truck for the Dunns Corners Fire Department, is now retired and privately owned by Watch Hill Deputy Chief Bob Peacock.
This truck, formerly the primary response truck for the Dunns Corners Fire Department, is now retired and privately owned by Watch Hill Deputy Chief Bob Peacock.
Children really enjoyed climbing on this antique fire truck brought by the Westerly Fire Department.
Children really enjoyed climbing on this antique fire truck brought by the Westerly Fire Department.
 
The Quimbaug Volunteer Fire Company brought this antique fire truck from Connecticut.
The Quimbaug Volunteer Fire Company brought this antique fire truck from Connecticut.
New and antique fire trucks from throughout the region attended including this former Cromwell fire truck that is now privately owned by Richard and Jane Fletcher and this former east Greenwich fire truck that is now owned by the East Greenwich Veterans Fire Museum.
New and antique fire trucks from throughout the region attended including this former Cromwell fire truck that is now privately owned by Richard and Jane Fletcher and this former east Greenwich fire truck that is now owned by the East Greenwich Veterans Fire Museum.