Fire Station welcomes community

By Editor | October 16, 2024 |

Photo by Shari Harris
All ages, young to old, watched as Licking firefighters demonstrated the use of extrication tools to open a car on Saturday at their Open House.

By Shari Harris, Publisher

The Licking Rural Fire and City of Licking Fire departments hosted an Open House on Saturday and invited the public inside to see what’s new at the fire station.

New gear, a new gear washing machine and plans for a new training room are among the most recent exciting happenings for the volunteer department. Many attended the event and watched a demonstration of extrication tools used to open wrecked vehicles to allow for safe removal of passengers.

Ron Hoffmeister, of Hoffcomp, which sells and services extrication equipment, brought battery-powered equipment for the department to use in the demonstration. The department would like to add the equipment to their arsenal of life-saving equipment. Their current extrication equipment is hydraulic powered and requires a hydraulic hose to be connected to one of the trucks while it is being used.

Photo submitted
Myrna Van Deusen presented a check Saturday to Fire Chief Aaron Greathouse, right, and Licking Rural Board President Donnie Trout on behalf of IECA Operation Round Up.

Firefighters Jeff Jones, Michael Cullen, Courtney Bryant and Quentin Trout were among those using the equipment during the demonstration.

Chief Greathouse was pleased with the turnout at the Open House, and invites anyone who is interested in donating their time to the fire station, either as a firefighter or in many other capacities around the station, to contact him, a board member or another volunteer for more information.