JOYCE — More than 75 people came to the Joyce fire district’s open house last weekend.
Clallam County Fire District No. 4 opened its Fire Station 1 to the public Saturday.
“Many people came because they wanted to thank us for helping someone in their family,” said district Commissioner Donna Buck.
“It was a great way for us to say, ‘Hey, we’re neighbors helping neighbors.’ It was very touching.”
The district offered free hot dogs and water, along with demonstrations of some of its fire and medical equipment.
Children were invited to try their hand at aiming fully pressured fire hoses.
Cones were set up in the adjacent field, and children tried to knock them over with the powerful spray while ex-firefighter and emergency medical technician Rich Erikson supported them from behind.
Kids also were allowed to try on authentic “bunker gear,” the clothing used by firefighters in actual emergencies.
A bicycle rider from Germany claiming he smelled the hot dogs stopped on his way as he cycled around the North Olympic Peninsula.
Many people expressed interest in the fire district’s volunteer program, including its new “non-emergency support” program.
The district has two fire stations and serves Joyce-area residents from Freshwater Bay to the Twin Rivers area west of Joyce along state Highway 112.
The fire station can be reached at 360-928-3132 during regular business hours.
