MATTAPOISETT – The Mattapoisett Fire Department hosted its annual open house event on Thursday, Oct. 12, offering the public a night of fun, food, and fire fighting fundamentals. 

Families flocked to the fire station to check out different types of fire department vehicles while gaining knowledge of fire safety and prevention. 

The event also gave Mattapoisett fire fighters the chance to interact with and get to know the community. 

According to Mattapoisett Fire Chief Andrew Murray, the event is held every year during Fire Prevention Week. 

“It’s good to get advice and information out there while helping public relations,” said Murray. “We all look forward to this event every year, it's a great way to get people together.”

Inside the station and in the parking lot, there were a number of different activities for kids, like shooting a fire hose, trying on firefighter gear and, of course, going inside many different trucks. 

“My favorite part of the night was checking out all of the trucks,” said 15-year-old Kai Uhlin, who attends the event “every couple of years.”

Firefighter Cody Grodzki said the night allows kids to get more comfortable with the firefighters. 

“It’s nice to see new faces and connect with people,” said Grodzki. “Kids can see us without our masks on and see that it is still us, we aren’t scary.”

Towards the end of the event, firefighters suited up and demonstrated the use of the “Jaws of Life” tool which drew a great deal of attention from the children in attendance. One firefighter used the tool to remove the hood of a car. 

Dave Rolfs was one of many parents who brought their kids to the open house. 

“It is great to see the improvements to the station, and the kids are loving all of the free swag,” said Rolfs.

The Mattapoisett Fire Department opened its new station in 2021. Murray said it has helped the department in many different ways. “Every aspect was improved, it brought us more up to date with the 21st century,” said Murray. 

Firefighter Chapman “Chappy” Dickerson showed kids how to use a fire hose. 

“I thought I was going to have an easy station, but the kids couldn’t get enough of it,” said Dickerson. “It was awesome to hear almost every other kid say they want to be a firefighter when they grow up.”