Lee Edmonds, captain with the Henderson Fire Department, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss October’s Fire Prevention Week and other upcoming fire department events.
The next event on the fire department’s busy fall list will be a dedication and commission for the City’s new fire truck, along with an open house, this Friday, September 21 at 10 a.m. at Fire Station #2. The station is located at 205 N. Garnett Street in downtown Henderson, but an easier direction, according to Edmonds, is just come to “the one with the clock tower.”
Participants will have the opportunity to tour the newly renovated fire department and adjoining municipal building that previously served as the police department. Fire department staff will also be on-hand to demonstrate the bells and whistles of the new fire engine.
While the public will have to wait until Saturday to see the new truck, Edmonds said the crew has already had a sneak preview. “The new fire truck arrived at 10 a.m. this morning,” said Edmonds. “We are all really excited.”
The new model replaces one of the City’s older year models from 1990. Edmonds believes the fire department was fortunate to get 28 years out of the previous truck, “A lot of bigger departments only get 10 years or less out of a truck.”
The nearly half-million dollar fire engine is larger than the previous model and includes newer, faster technology and safety features. “It’s unreal what you can do with a fire truck now,” Edmonds said.
Fire department staff will participate in an all-day, in-house training session next week on the truck’s features. “We will train and get everyone familiar with it before we put it on the front line,” said Edmonds.
The department is also gearing up for 2018’s Fire Prevention Week observed Sunday, October 7 through Saturday, October 13. In honor of this week and its mission to educate others on fire safety, firefighters will be visiting elementary schools in the city to give a presentation to students.
To conclude Fire Prevention Week, there will be a “Look, Listen and Learn” Fire Prevention Day on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in front of the Henderson Police Department on Breckenridge Street.
Hot dogs and drinks will be provided and vendors will be on site to provide safety information. The City’s fire trucks will be on display and the fire department’s smoke trailer will be available for demonstrations. The event is free to the public.
For more information on the event, or if you are interested in participating, please call Captain Edmonds at (252) 430-1877.