by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Last Sunday was family day like gangbusters at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department’s annual open house, with lots and lots of babies, toddlers, teens and their parents having a ball at the fire station.
At one point, the large parking lot behind the fire hall was cram-packed with visitors, with children crawling in and out of fire trucks as their proud parents took photos.
All but three of the department’s 28 firefighters were at the event, helping out, greeting visitors, answering questions, shooting the breeze with people younger and older.
There were prizes, balloons, free popcorn and pop, and hamburgers and hot dogs for sale.
The breezy warm weather was a big plus for the big turn-out.
For more about the event, see the photos in this paper.
Bella Weber, 9, St. Cloud, dons fire gear at the Oct. 11 Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House.
Jordyn Lee, 9, Sauk Rapids, munches on a hamburger Oct. 11 at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House.
Families sit curbside and enjoy impromptu picnic snacks at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department’s Open House Oct. 11. The warm fall weather was ideal for the event.
Allysin Olsen, 9, Sauk Rapids, relaxes in the warm autumn air on the back of a fire truck. Allysin was one of hundreds of children who enjoyed the Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House Oct. 11.
Caeden Menden, 12, Sauk Rapids, flies like Peter Pan above the crowd at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House. Scores of families had fun at the annual event.
Sauk Rapids Lions Club members serve hamburgers and hot dogs at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House Oct. 11. At times, there was a long line for the treats. From left to right are Jeanne Blackmore, Bobbie Ziebol and Barb DuHammel.
The Sauk Rapids Lions Club served hundreds of hamburgers at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House Oct. 11. From left to right at the grill are John Blackmore and Robert Raupp.
Sauk Rapids’ three official ambassadors give free batteries to visitors at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House Oct. 11. From left to right are Kelsey Christensen, Tana Hendrickson and Nikki Bukowski.
Sauk Rapids firefighter Dale Abraham brought two children to the fire department’s open house Oct. 11. His children are Evelyn and Isaac.
A flying machine is a big hit with children at the Oct. 11 Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House. Beautiful warm fall weather helped guarantee an excellent turn-out for the event, mainly families.
A father waits with his son, who wants to climb aboard a fire truck at the Oct. 11 Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House.
Pushing the age of 100, this 1920 unit was Sauk Rapids’ first fire truck once upon a time. It was displayed at the department’s Oct. 11 open house.
Best of friends Tamrra Golden of Minneapolis (left) and Andreya Clour of St.Cloud give each other a warm embrace during the Oct. 11 Sauk Rapids Fire Department Open House.
