Elizabeth Craig, 11, of Traverse City receives a hands on lesson in operating a hoseline from firefighter/paramedic Mike Onthank.

Fire station opens doors to public

     Held at Traverse City Station No. 1, the open house provided a fun opportunity for families to tour the West Front Street fire station. Activities included a kids obstacle course agility test, free photos in fire fighter gear or behind the wheel of a fire truck. While many children played dress up with plastic fire fighter hats and coats, the afternoon event also taught serious lessons on safety.

     Held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Month, the open house provided participants with fire extinguisher demonstrations, home safety equipment displays and a bike safety class. The fire department also demonstrated the abilities of a ladder truck and pumper truck’s water cannon.




Marcus Wasson, 3 1/2, of Traverse City gets a grip on the fire truck steering wheel as he takes younger sister, Shelby, 2 1/2, along on a pretend ride.

Firefighter Marco Marcantoni helps Danny Cholger guide the pumper truck’s deck gun as it sprays water high up into the surrounding trees.

Reid Nelson, 3, of Traverse City hangs on to his firefighter hat as he watches the Traverse City Fire Department ladder truck in action Saturday during the annual fire department open house.

Above: Fire fighting gear hangs on hooks in the West Front Street fire station. Below: A young rider peers out between the rungs of a ladder adorning an antique LaFrance fire engine as the vehicle takes passengers for a short trip around the block.



11-month-old Kelli Drudeau of Traverse City pets a ceramic Dalmatian sitting guard in front of the West Front Street fire station.