KANNAPOLIS — On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Kannapolis Fire Department will hold its sixth annual open house at Fire Station One, 300 Firehouse Drive. This free event features CPR training, firefighter recruitment information, thermal imager demonstrations, fire extinguisher training and emergency escape planning. Children will have an opportunity to visit “Sparky’s Dog House” for arts and crafts and spray water from a real fire hose. Bounce houses and other activities will be available. Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring cameras for various photo opportunities around the department and on the training grounds.
The Kannapolis Firefighters’ Assistance Foundation (KFAF) will sell hamburgers, hot dogs, barbeque and kids’ meals throughout the day. KFAF will also sponsor a silent auction from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Many items have been donated by local businesses and community members. Attendees will be encouraged to cast their vote for artwork from Kannapolis Intermediate School fifth-graders, giving the top vote-getter the opportunity to have their artwork placed on the department’s new Interactive Safety Simulator for the following year, and for their favorite community event featured on “Community Row,” including a Stewart-Haas race car, a Coca-Cola Refreshment Experience trailer, Pizza Hut Smart Car, pet safety information, child passenger safety information and much more.
This year’s open house theme is “Prevent Kitchen Fires — Get Cookin’ With Fire Safety.” Cooking fires are the leading cause of residential fires in Kannapolis. In an effort to reduce the number of kitchen fires, attendees will receive free kitchen safety handouts and other fire safety information. To reduce the fire load in your home, the Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) will host a shred event as part of the open house activities. Bring boxed or bagged items to be shred from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The shred truck will be located in front of the fire station near the free parking area.
Free parking is located on the Firehouse Drive side of the station. Attendees are asked to park in this area and enter the event through the bay and proceed to Community Row, the training grounds and the Kids’ Zone. The open house is a part of the Kannapolis Fire Department’s celebration of National Fire Prevention Week. For more information, contact Maria Bostian at 704-920-4282.