Riverhead Fire Department held its annual open house Sunday at fire department headquarters.
The event featured demonstrations to educate people of all ages about fire safety and about firefighting activities by the department’s highly skilled volunteer firefighters.
Firefighters demonstrated how to put out stove fires in the home, both stovetop fires and oven fires. They also demonstrated how they extinguish a vehicle fire and how the department’s heavy rescue crews extricate people from vehicles involved in crashes, when damage from impacts prevent vehicle doors from opening. They gave lessons on how to use a small metal punch device to break open a vehicle window from the inside when doors can’t be opened. The tool is essential equipment for all vehicle owners.
The open house this year drew an exceptionally large crowd, Riverhead Fire Chief Piotr Kurzyna said.
“We had an excellent turnout,” he said, noting that visitors finished off the entire supply of free hot dogs (500) and cheeseburgers (200-250) cooked up by RFD and Auxiliary members.
“It was a great family event,” Kurzyna said. Kids especially enjoyed learning to use a fire hose, taking aim at targets set up for that purpose. Riverhead’s Ironmen Drill Team racing vehicles on display at the event were also a big hit with the kids, he said.
Representatives of the Riverhead Town Fire Marshal’s Office, Riverhead Police Department, Suffolk County Fire Marshals, Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office were on hand to chat with visitors about what they do and hand out giveaways for kids like coloring books and toy firefighter helmets. Kurzyna thanked Jamesport Fire Department for standing by at Riverhead’s headquarters and answering calls that came in during the event.
“I’m definitely looking forward to doing the event again next year,” the chief said. It’s important for the community to get to know what we do and how we do it, Kurzyna said. He is hoping the event kindled an interest in some attendees to learn about becoming a volunteer firefighter, he said. The department is planning to host some recruitment events in the coming months.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
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