Sandy Hook Fire Volunteers Open Their Doors To The Public

The Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company opened up its huge bay doors along Riverside Road last Sunday for an open house. An estimated 400 to 500 people attended the event.

“We do it every other year and we always get big crowds,” noted company chief Bill Halstead. “It’s an opportunity to let people see what kind of equipment and training we have here.”

Also on hand was the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which provided free blood pressure screenings and gave tours of one of its three ambulance vehicles.

During the open house Sandy Hook firefighters put on a number of exhibitions for the audience, including a rope rescue, a sprinkler demonstration, and a Jaws of Life extrication.

“Then we torched the two cars so that people could see how fast the cars went up and feel the extreme heat,” noted Chief Halstead.

Don’t worry, he said, the gas tanks were emptied and filled with water beforehand. Firefighters then doused the flames to the delight of the crowd.

The open house also featured a house trailer, which is used to teach children about fire safety. Smokey Bear was on hand to remind everyone that “only you can prevent forest fires.” And the state police dropped by with the “Convincer” machine, which simulates the impact of an automobile collision and demonstrates the importance of wearing a seat belt at all times.

“All in all it went well. People thanked us for a great day,” Chief Halstead said.

The Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company is the busiest fire company in town (along with Newtown Hook & Ladder). It is on pace to respond to 511 calls this year.