By Tim Kelly
Asbury Avenue was ablaze in community outreach Friday night.
The annual Open House of the Ocean City Fire Department and firefighters’ union IAFF Local 4032 attracted more than 1,000 people to the Fire Headquarters at 5th and Asbury.
The free, family-friendly event gave the department and union the opportunity to show off equipment, conduct demonstrations and games that drove home the important lessons of fire safety.
“This is something we enjoy doing, and (community members) seem to enjoy it, too,” Fire Chief Jim Smith said.
Kassidy Coan, 17, and her 14-year-old sister, Megan, daughters of firefighter Dan Coan, attended with their best friend Alex Vitola, 17. All three girls attend Ocean City High School.
“I think (the open house) is great,” Alex said. “It brings the whole community together and teaches some of the important things we can do” to prevent fires and promote safety.
Smith said he was not certain how long the Open House has been going on but it has been at least a decade.
“It coincides with Fire Prevention Month going on, and our 125th anniversary,” he said, referring to the Fire Department’s founding in 1893.
Smith noted that many of the firefighters who were staging the event were doing it on their own time. The off-duty men and women seemed to be enjoying themselves every bit as much as their guests.
The event was action-packed and included a live burn demonstration, a “smoke house” where kids could learn how to navigate a dark and smoky building, tours of the station and the fire apparatus, demonstrations of the “Jaws of life” and a helicopter landing among other features.
Attendees enjoyed free hot dogs, salt water taffy, Philly soft pretzels and soft drinks, played games and had their faces painted. Giveaway items were distributed, along with the always popular plastic replica firefighter helmets.
“This is a nice family event where the kids can see their heroes in real life,” said Sarah Keane, on hand with husband Pat and their son Patrick, 1. The family is from Ocean City.
Although the atmosphere was mostly festive, the firefighters were strong in their delivery of the fire safety message.
Kids lined up for a chance to direct a fire hose at a mock burning building and gathered behind caution tape for one of the evening’s highlights: a demonstration illustrating how quickly a house fire can start and spread.
“A fire can double in size every 30 seconds,” Smith said.
The organizers built a wood frame “bedroom” that proved his point when a small flame present in the room grew to engulf it. In real time, the firefighters enacted everything from discovery of the blaze, the 9-1-1 call, the average response time of two minutes on the island, and, ultimately, a fire that was brought under control and put out. Not before the room was destroyed, however.
“This is why it’s so important to call us right away, to leave the building and not go back,” Smith noted.
Bill Love, a ranger with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service , saw a lot of action in his corner of the fire house where his giant inflatable Smokey Bear dominated, and business was good handing out Smokey stickers and booklets.
“I’m impressed,” said Love, who works out of nearby Belleplain State Forest . “They are doing a great job putting this together and look at the turnout. This event really shows people all that (firefighters) do to prevent fires.”
