Playing with fire with the Dartmouth fire departments
Jeremy McNamera and his son Bennett, spray a fire hose. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Charlotte Armstrong, 2, "drives" a firetruck.
Firefighters demonstrate how they put out a house fire.
A firefighter instructs residents how to put out a grease fire.
Caroline Abrantes shows off the fire truck equipment to residents. 
The packed firehouse during the open house.
Bolton Greer, 3, "drives" the firetruck.
Jeremy McNamera and his son Bennett, spray a fire hose. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Charlotte Armstrong, 2, "drives" a firetruck.
Firefighters demonstrate how they put out a house fire.
A firefighter instructs residents how to put out a grease fire.
Caroline Abrantes shows off the fire truck equipment to residents.
The packed firehouse during the open house.
Bolton Greer, 3, "drives" the firetruck.
“That’s a fire!” a kid yelled as firefighters demonstrated how to safely put out a grease fire at the District 3 Fire station open house on Saturday, Oct. 4. District 2 also had an open house on Sunday, Oct. 5
The open houses were planned for Fire Prevention Week and both included demonstrations on fire safety. District 3 explained how to safely operate a fire extinguisher and put out a grease fire, and District 2 explained the dangers of ion batteries.
“It’s important, especially for young kids, to make connections with the fire service because it really drives home the fire prevention message,” said Richard Arruda, the chief at District 3.
These open houses are an opportunity for kids and those who live in the area to learn what goes on to protect the community. At both, kids could spray fire hoses and explore the inside of the trucks as their parents took photos of them “driving.”
At District 3, kids watched a live demonstration of how firefighters put out a house on fire, using a controlled fire in a fake house. There was also a bouncy fire truck and food.
Adelyn Freeman, 8, said that the fire trucks were her favorite part of the open house.
Christopher Young, 6, said that the bouncy fire truck at District 3 was the best part.
District 2 was geared more toward the general public, with an informational tour of the trucks and equipment, and demonstrations of their drone equipment. There was Sparky, the mascot dalmatian, present for kids.
“Events like this are important because fire safety should be practiced every day, from child to adult,” said Erick Turcotte, the chief at District 2.
Beverly Carter of Dartmouth and her friends were led on a tour of the station, learning about how firefighters go about fighting fires and keeping the community safe from Caroline Abrantes, who is a firefighter for District 2.
“I think more people should be aware of how complicated [firefighting] is and what their tax money goes to,” said Carter, “It’s a lot. I’m blown away.”
