Medina FD holds annual open house with focus on fire prevention

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Andy Weit, 2, gets help from firefighter Captain Mike Young to hit a target with a water hose. Mom and dad Jessica and Matthew Weit and his siblings watch from behind.

MEDINA – Medina Fire Department held its annual Open House from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, a week earlier than in previous years.

“We usually hold it the first Sunday in October to kick off Fire Prevention Week and Month,” said fire chief Matt Jackson.

Medina firefighter Dylan Schrader lets Elaine Kyle, 10, hold an axe from one of the fire trucks on display.

The event featured tours of the fire station, all the trucks on display outside, a bounce house for kids, the county’s Fire Safety Trailer, a spray house where children could spray water to put out a simulated fire and Dubby’s Wood Fire Pizza on site.

In the morning, the firefighters had the annual memorial service to honor those who had passed away during the year.

“We were very fortunate we didn’t have to add any names this year,” Jackson said.

Jackson said Dustin Pahura, firefighter, set up the activities for children.

“We put a lot of effort into making this event happen,” he said.

He said the kids enjoyed the spray house and bounce house the most. Children who wanted a small plastic helmet were given one to take home.

Pahura said he liked seeing the kids having fun on the bounce house and trying to spray water from the big hose.

Matthew and Jessica Weit of Clarendon came with their three children, Robby, 8; Amelia, 4; and Andy, 2. The children all love fire trucks and wore tee shirts with fire trucks on them. The family has traveled out west to visit fire companies.

Jessica said her brother-in-law Dustin Meredith, a police officer, texted her Saturday morning about the open house.

“I told the family I guess we are going to the fire department open house today,” she said. “The kids just love fire trucks.”

Siblings Robby, 8; Andy 2; and Amelia Weit, 4, loved looking at all the firefighting apparatus at Medina Fire Department’s Open House.