Rochester Fire Department To Have Family Safety Day Event Sept. 28

The Rochester Fire Department is having a family safety event at its station at 2006 E. SR 14 on Saturday, Sept. 28. The last time the department had a similar event was in 2019 when it had a firefighter obstacle course for kids to go through. Shown at the 2019 event are kids with firefighters from left T.J. DuBois, Jeff Zellers, Ryan Utter, Michael Hicks and Jerry Heckathorn. Photos provided by the RFD.
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
ROCHESTER — The Rochester Fire Department wants area residents to be prepared for National Fire Prevention Month in October.
Therefore it’s having a family safety day event on Saturday, Sept. 28.
It will be from noon to 3 p.m. at the RFD station, 2006 E. SR 14.
RFD Assistant Chief Jamie Gagnon said it’s been five years since something slightly similar was held. That event had a firefighter obstacle course for kids.
Children may do that course again on Sept. 28. In addition, Parkview Health will have its helicopter at the event at 1:30 p.m.
Lutheran Health will do car seat checks, and there will be an extrication demonstration done.
Also present at the event will be the Rochester Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Fulton County Emergency Management Agency and Fulton County Health Department.
Gagnon noted planning for the event started awhile back.
“New younger members on the department wanted to get the community (involved with the RFD),” he said.
Gagnon said he hoped community members coming in for the event learned about “fire safety.”
- Heckathorn, right, helps a child with part of the obstacle course. In the background is Kaleb Shaffer, now a Rochester firefighter.
- DuBois, left, walks the obstacle course with a child.
- Rochester firefighter Brandon Cody, left, watches as a child rolls a hose during the obstacle course.


