The Rock Community Fire Protection District will hold its annual open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at House 5, 3749 Telegraph Road, in Arnold.
The event is free to attend, and Kona Ice will serve free snow cones from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“It is very important for the community to be able to come in and see the facilities,” said Alyson Rotter, Rock Fire’s public education coordinator and public information officer. “I think it brings the community together a little bit. It is something I look forward to every year.”
The event will feature safe house presentations and tours of House 5. There will be a demonstration of how someone is extricated from a vehicle at 1 p.m.
Firefighter Lane Carl, who wrote and illustrated the children’s book, “Yeah, I Can Do That,” is scheduled to read her book at 11 a.m. Copies of the book will be offered for sale.
“She will do a meet and greet, and she will sign autographs,” Rotter said.
Representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association, Arnold Police Department, Jefferson County 911 Dispatch, Jefferson County Health Department, Red Cross and Rock Township Ambulance District are scheduled to be at the open house.
A firetruck, ambulance and police vehicle will be on display, and free chips, popcorn, water and juice will be available.
“It is fun for us to have the community come in and see everything,” Rotter said. “They also share stories with us about when we helped them. So, they may show some appreciation for us, and we get to show that appreciation back. It is something we look forward to, the chance to interact with the community in a non-emergency setting.”
Rotter said a highlight of the annual event for many people is the opportunity to sit in a firetruck, ambulance and police vehicle.
The event also provides the various agencies a chance to help educate the public on various topics.
“They may not expect to leave being educated about a certain topic, but we end up giving them information about something like smoke detectors,” Rotter said. “They also may schedule a changing of the battery on a smoke detector with us, which they may not have known was available.”
For information, call 636-296-2211 or go to the Rock Fire Facebook page.