With National Fire Prevention Week wrapping up  Saturday, the Becker Fire Dept. opened its fire station to the public with lights flashing and sirens wailing Saturday morning.

 

Chief Doug Kolbinger appeared pleased as he watched hundreds of people arrive at the Bank Street location to learn more about their rescuers and see them outside their usual tumultuous day-to-days. 

Becker has 36 primarily serving the City of Becker, Becker Township and Santiago Township.

 

The event Saturday gave residents the chance to touch, feel and even wear some of the things firefighters deal with on a daily basis. This year’s fire prevention week campaign was, “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years,”  and represented the final year of the NFPA’s three-year effort to educate the public about basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety.

 

Kolbinger spent time demonstrating the LUCAS2 portable compression device that was strapped to a mannequin on a gurney in the middle of the station. Holly Hughes of Becker — along with her twin eight-year-olds, Josie and Zach — got a first-hand look at the apparatus designed to aid victims suffering from cardiac arrest in emergency situations.

 

The fire station had on display most of their trucks and firefighters eagerly answered questions and allowed kids and adults to climb aboard the big rigs. Kolbinger’s firefighters also had on full display all their gear at their lockers along the wall for people to see what it all entails.

 

For fun, the station tendered a giant inflatable slide in the middle of the room for kids to leap, spring and jump from.

 

Outside, firefighters were busy taking turns with children looking to get a feel for a real fire hose and the power they have in putting out fires. Eleven-year-old Alexis McGuire of Monticello was amazed at the strength required to shoot the hose as she impressed her parents — Eric and Janessa.

 

Dozens of visitors stood in line to board the big red trucks with the flashing lights and loud sirens. Corrie and Kurt Wiechmann of Becker — along with their seven-year-old son, Kye — eagerly hopped into the cab as it arrived and were whisked out of sight as the truck navigated neighborhoods, giving the riders a thrill of a lifetime.

 

The open house again featured the usual donuts, juice, hot chocolate and coffee as well as the opportunity for kids to try on a massive firefighter uniform and boots.

 

Firefighter Ron Kortz walked from area-to-area handing out helium-filled balloons for the little ones.

 

In another room, handouts on fire safety were available for free to give people great ideas on how to protect themselves and their homes from fires.

 

It was hard not to notice the humungous bright yellow Chevrolet monster truck with five-foot tall tires in the parking lot outside the station. The vehicle was on display to garner inquisitive minds but no one was allowed to clamber on to the “Rat Nasty” - mobile for fear of injury.

 

Raven (10 years-old) and Cylas (5-years-old) of Big Lake stood right up to the gigantic tires of the machine and were still short of height as their mom, Jennifer McCoy-Lay snapped pictures.

 

The owners of the monster truck were selling t-shirts with the Rat Nasty name and graphic on them for $20 to help donate to the fire department.

 

The weather was pleasant and the visitors entertained at this year’s version of the Becker Fire Dept.’s Open House.