Open House highlights firefighter equipment and skills

By Editor | September 17, 2025 |

Photo by Shari Harris
Children enjoyed spraying water with the firehoses, and were later seen running and playing in the spray in Saturday’s heat.

By Shari Harris, Publisher

The Licking Rural and City fire departments held an open house on Saturday at the Fox Fire Station. The public was invited into the fire station for demonstrations and one-on-one chats with firefighters, Texas County 911 dispatch and LPD officers.

Three firefighters demonstrated a “bunker drill” where they donned full firefighting gear as quickly as possible. All completed the drill in less than three minutes. This is important especially in volunteer fire departments because minutes are spent getting to the fire station before gear can even be donned.

The department’s new extraction tools were demonstrated on a vehicle, as firefighters showed how a vehicle could be cut open to allow an accident victim to be safely extracted from it.

Firehoses were set up outside the firehouse, and visitors could hold a hose and feel the effort needed to support a hose at low pressure. The new hen nozzle was in use on one of the hoses, and it was easy to see how the wider spray pattern could more quickly knock down a structure fire. Firefighters and rural board members answered questions and showed visitors their trucks and equipment throughout the day.

Members of the rural district could pay dues at a table in the community room. An information table was set up for Texas County 911, and another table offered Missouri Department of Conservation giveaways. Cookies, soda and sno-cones were also handed out at the event.

These firefighters give their time weekly (and sometimes daily) to train and respond to emergencies in the City of Licking and rural district. They must remain prepared to ensure their safety and the safety of the public. Saturday’s event offered insight into the demands placed on them, and into the giving nature of every one of the firefighters and other volunteers who stand ready to protect their community. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, or an auxiliary member who helps out at the fire station or at an emergency, bringing the firefighters food and water or other supplies, contact them at 573-889-8167 or email them at lickingruralfd@gmail.com.