2015 Fire Department Open Houses and Displays

Every year, since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has celebrated National Fire Prevention Week, during the Sunday-Saturday in which October 9th falls.  October 9 is the date the the "Great Chicago Fire" did the most damage, fires also did mass devastation in Peshtigo, Wisconsin and across Michigan.  The NFPA also chooses a theme for the week, this year's theme is "Hear the beep where you sleep."

Fire departments use the month of October to do a variety of public education displays at schools, fire stations, businesses, etc to raise awareness of why fire safety is important and to showcase the equipment they use, answer questions, and let kids (big and small) try out the various equipment.

Most fire department open houses include some sort of demonstration (vehicle extrication, fire attack, rappelling, etc), a variety of emergency vehicles on display, freebies for the kids, etc.  Some of the open houses may include some food (breakfast, hot dogs, cookies, etc), a helicopter, bounce house, and more. Check with your local fire department for more information.

Below is a list of fire department open houses from across the state that I have been able to compile.  If your local FD is not listed, check with them to see if they will be having one.  If you know of one that's not listed feel free to share it with me as well and as time allows I will update the list.  Feel free to share with others.

The list goes in order by date:

*October*

10/1

Muskegon County - Muskegon Twp - 10/1 6-8 - 1699 Getty

10/2

Oakland County - Farmington Hills - 10/2 3-7 - 31455 W. 11 Mile

10/3

Oakland County - Huntington Woods - 10/3 430-6 - 12755 W. 11 Mile

Oakland County - Oakland Township - 10/3 12-4 - 1888 N Rochester

Oakland County - Waterford - 10/3 10-2 - 2495 Crescent Lake

Lenawee County - Blissfield - 10/3 11-4 - 299 E. Adrian

Shiawassee County - Owosso - 10/3 9-1 - Home Depot

Macomb County - Utica - 10/3 11-4 - 7609 Auburn

Macomb County - Bruce Twp - 10/3 10-1 - 223 E. Gates

Muskegon County - Moorland Twp - 10/3 12-3 - 12416 Apple

Wayne County - Canton -10/3 10-2 - 1100 S. Canton Center

Wayne County -Dearborn (Melvindale) - 10/3 12-2 - 3160 Oakwood

10/4

Washtenaw County - Pittsfield Twp - 10/4 12-3 - 6227 W. Michigan Ave

Macomb County - Sterling Heights - 10/4 11-3 - 12850 15 Mile

Macomb County - St Clair Shores - 10/4 12-3 - 26700 Harper

Macomb County - Macomb Twp - 10/4 12-3 - 47711 North Ave

Macomb County - Washington Twp - 10/4 12-4 - 11300 27 Mile

Macomb County - Armada - 10/4 12-3 - 23175 Armada Center

Wayne County - Grosse Pte Woods - 10/4 12-4 - 20025 Mack Plaza

Genesee County - Argentine Twp - 10/4 10-2 - 9048 Silver Lake

Oakland County - Troy - 10/4 1-4 - All 6 fire stations

Oakland County - Commerce Township - 10/4 12-3 - Richardson Center, 1485 Oakley Park Rd

Oakland County - West Bloomfield Twp - 10/4 12-3 - 4601 Orchard Lake

Oakland County - Rochester Hills - 10/4 12-3 - 1111 Horizon Ct

Saginaw County - Saginaw Twp - 10/4 9-1 - 3211 McCarty

10/5

Allegan County - Leighton Twp - 10/5 7-830 - 4451 12th Street (Library)

10/6

Muskegon County - Egelston Twp - 10/6 6-8 - 5380 E. Apple

Washtenaw County - Milan - 10/6 6-9 - 45 Wabash

Kent County - Grandville - 10/6 6-8 - 3215 Wilson SW

Oakland County - Orion Twp - 10/6 5-9 - Hollywood Market, 1100 S Lapeer

Ottawa County - Grand Haven Twp - 10/6 - 530-8 - 13250 168th Ave

10/7

Van Buren County - Gobles - 10/7 6-9 - 15919 32nd St

Allegan County - Wayland - 10/7 6-8 - 160 W. Superior 

10/8

Ottawa County - Spring Lake - 10/8 6-8 - 16681 148th Ave

10/9

Oakland County - Rochester Hills - 10/9, 7-9 - Meijer, 3175 S. Rochester - Apparatus Display

10/10

Oakland County - Rose Twp - 10/10 1-4 - 280 W Rose Center (North Oakland Sta 3)

Oakland County - Birmingham - 10/10 1-4 - 572 S. Adams

Oakland County - Wixom - 10/10 10-2 - 1345 N. Wixom

Oakland County - Walled Lake - 10/10 10-2 - 1499 E. Maple

Oakland County - Addison Twp - 10/10 10-2 - 4026 Forest

Ottawa County - Grand Haven - 10/10 11-1 - 525 Washington

Eaton County - Hamlin Twp - 10/10 11-4 - 6463 S Clinton Trail

Genesee County - Fenton City - 10/10 12-4 - 205 E. Caroline St

Lapeer County - Metamora - 10/10 10-2 - 730 W Dryden

Manistee County - Manistee - 10/10 11-3 - 281 First St

Osceola County - Reed City - 10/10 12-2 - Roth Street Park

Washtenaw County - Augusta Twp - 10/10 12-4 - 10985 Whitaker

Macomb County - Shelby Twp - 10/10 10-2 - 6345 23 Mile

Grand Traverse County - GTC Metro - 10/10 11-3 - all 5 fire stations (1, 8, 9, 11, and 12)

Washtenaw County - Augusta Twp - 10/10 12-4 - 10985 Whittaker Rd

Wayne County - Dearborn - 10/10 12-2 - 19800 Outer Drive

Wayne County - Brownstown Twp - 10/10 10-3 - Sibley x Telegraph 

10/11

Monroe County - Monroe Twp - 10/11 1-4 - 15331 S. Dixie Hwy

Washtenaw County - Manchester - 10/11 1-3 - 275 S Macomb St

Oakland County - Clawson - 10/11 12-3 - 111 Gardner

Oakland County - Hazel Park - 10/11 10-1 - 22830 Russell

Oakland County - Bloomfield Twp - 10/11 12-4 - 4200 S. Telegraph 

Oakland County - Milford - 10/11 11-3 - 325 W. Huron

Oakland County - Rochester - 10/11 12-3 - 277 E. Second

 Livingston County - Brighton - 10/11 10-3 - 616 West Grand River Ave

Macomb County - New Baltimore - 10/11 8-1 - 36535 Green (Pancake Breakfast)

 10/12

Ottawa County - Ferrysburg - 10/12 6-8 - 601 174th

10/13

Muskegon County - Ravenna - 10/13 6-8 - 3770 Blackmer Rd

Clinton County - DeWitt Twp - 10/13 6-8 - 1080 E. Wieland 

10/14

Muskegon County - Dalton Twp - 10/14 6-8 - 1650 E. Riley-Thompson

Eaton County - Charlotte - 10/14 630-9 - 911 W. Shepherd

10/17

Wayne County - Dearborn Heights - 10/17 10-2 - 1999 N Beech Daly

10/18

Washtenaw County - Chelsea - 10/18 12-4 - 200 W Middle St

Oakland County Fair Public Safety Day 2015

Earlier this year, I was asked by a member of the Oakland County Fair Board to be her vice-chairperson for the public safety day event.  This will be the fair's third attempt at the event.  The first year was geared towards fire department related activities and was great except for lack of participation from most departments in the county.  Last year the event was mostly rained out due to the arena being under water.  I have expressed a desire in the past to help out and volunteer and due to that and the other staff who usually help being pre-occupied with full-time work, I was asked to help run the event.

I'm excited and look forward to this great opportunity to prove what I can do.  So far I've had help from a couple of chiefs circulating the info amongst the various fire and police departments across the county.  I have also emailed a couple of ambulance companies, the Michigan State Police, and utility companies to see if they would be willing and able to participate in some capacity.

Some of my ideas of things I'd like to do that day include, but not limited too:
- static display of current, unique, and antique emergency vehicles
- a K-9 demonstration
- a vehicle extrication demonstration
- booths for agencies to put up displays, brochures, pamphlets, job applications, etc...
- waterball
- Stan Safety the magical fireman
- plastic helmets, sticker badges, etc
- and more, much more

So far I've had phone calls from the DEA and Consumers Energy saying they are highly interested and MSP has already committed to participating.

If you're on an Oakland County FD, PD, or EMS agency, please encourage your agency to be involved.  There will hopefully be some prizes awarded, but most of all you'll be showcasing your agency to the residents of the county and maybe getting some people interested in helping your department.

If you have any ideas of other agencies to contact, or ideas for games, events, and demonstrations or for more info please email me at almont2@yahoo.com.

Thanks for your time.

*Update 3/13/15*
I have 2 more confirmations:
- Michigan EMS Memorial committee
- Star EMS with ambulance and doing free Blood Pressure checks

*Update 3/18/15*
- Currently working with Kidde for smoke detector donations, Kohl's Cares and DMC for bicycle helmet donations.
- National Weather Service is interested in coming out.
- Bloomfield Twp PD is looking into possibly bringing out their drunk driving simulator goggles.

*Update 3/20/15*
- Beaumont Hospitals is looking at bringing out information from it's Safety City USA display

*Update 3/23/15*
- Southfield PD will at the least be doing a table spot with flyers & applications. They may be bringing a specialized unit as well.

*Update 3/25/15*
Rochester Hills FD has agreed to participate in some form

SeaLife of Michigan review

Yesterday (2/12/15), we took Alex up to SeaLife of Michigan at Great Lakes Crossing.  My review, I think it is mediocre and not worth the hype.  We have been to other aquariums that for the same price or less than $5 more it is a lot more interactive (touch tanks for Rays and Tiger Sharks), had a bigger tunnel, more sea life, and penguins. The other places also provided better customer service and seemed more eager to treat walk up traffic the same as prepaid traffic.  I will most likely not be going back and saving my money for other things (heck I'd gladly pay an admission  for Rainforest Cafe, it seems like a better experience).

One of my biggest gripes was that we just walked up and they said they had to let the prepaid people in first.  So we patiently waited 10 mins, but just as they were about to take us another prepaid walked up and got in first.  I finally just pushed my way up to counter and said you're either taking my money now or I go home. They are also having problems with their website, they said, so even if we tried to buy tickets online while in line there's no guarantee it would have went through.

So my suggestion is enter at your own risk, be patient,  plan on at least 30-60 minutes to get through it, and go with an open mind. Also whether you liked it or not do the exit survey before leaving.