The Tenafly Volunteer Fire Department hosted an open house and apparatus muster June 8. This was a way for the fire department to give back to the community. Fire apparatus was on display along with a fire safety house and a fire extinguisher simulator.
The fire department offered refreshments including hamburgers and hot dogs, and the local Mr Frosty ice cream truck. There was a recruitment drive set up for the fire department to draw new membership, including their junior program.
Some of the neighboring communities participated by bringing fire apparatus. The special surprise of the event was Rescue Company 343, a rescue truck owned by a retired FDNY member who served out of Rescue One. The vehicle, which served in New York State, was made into a memorial to all those members of the FDNY killed on 9/11. In the black stripe that wraps around the vehicle are the names of every member of the FDNY that passed away on that day.
There were trophies for best appearing apparatus in their age bracket. For example, trucks from the 1920s, ’30s, ’40s etc. to current. Some of the apparatus on display were a Demarest 1948 Mack pumper, a Paramus Seagrave pumper and the Leonia Fire Department antique quad ladder truck along with its department’s mobile field command unit.
The fire department set up a water sprinkler to keep the kids cooled off. Music was provided by Black magic DJ, owned by a firefighter from a neighboring community. The committee, which spent a lot of time putting this together, felt the event was a great success and plans on doing another show next year.
The Tenafly Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank all those who participated and all those who stepped up to help out, especially local businesses.
