The SPFD’s first open house in more than 25 years was a huge success, firefighters say

STEVENS POINT – The Stevens Point Fire Department held its first open house in more than 25 years on Oct. 12 in honor of Fire Prevention Month.

The event attracted over 100 visitors in the first hour. Families enjoyed station tours, equipment demonstrations, fire safety information and a special appearance by Sparky, the fire safety mascot. Ultimately, more than 200 people submitted an application through the SPFD on Saturday.

Fire Chief Jb Moody said members of his department were very proud of the SPFD and went to great lengths to ensure Station No. 1 was in top condition before the event.

“It was all of them…they shampooed the carpets, they painted walls…our members really take a lot of pride and pride in this department,” Moody said.

Moody has been boss for a little over two years and has hired about half of the department’s members during that time. He believes the last time the department held an open house was in the mid-to-late 1990s.

“This is the first open house we have had in over two decades and the response from the community has been amazing,” said department head Terence Sinner, who helped organize the event. “We’ve had a steady flow of families and the kids really seem to enjoy it – especially Sparky.”

The open house, organized in part by Sinner, also included a citywide fire safety competition for children. Students in kindergarten through second grade participated in a painting competition, while third through fifth graders submitted essays about the importance of smoke detectors in the home. Sinner said selecting the winners was difficult due to the quality of the entries.

“We had some fantastic entries,” Sinner said. “The creativity and thought that went into these essays and coloring sheets was impressive. It made our task of selecting the winners a real challenge.”

The top entries in each grade level received bikes valued between $200 and $250, donated by the Hostel Shoppe. Other local sponsors, including Culver’s and Kwik Trip, donated prizes such as a year’s supply of vanilla pudding and food and drink gift cards.

“We are incredibly grateful to our local businesses for their generosity,” Sinner said. “The Hostel Shoppe, Culver’s and Kwik Trip really stepped up to make this event special for the kids.”

A ceremony to honor the winners was held at noon. During the event, Sinner expressed appreciation for the strong community support and efforts of local donors.

The open house also featured a barbecue, with proceeds benefiting the Stevens Point Firefighters Charitable Foundation, which supports various community initiatives.

Justin Malin, assistant fire marshal and emergency management coordinator, praised the community’s turnout and commitment.

“It’s great to see families coming out and getting involved in our work, and we’re already thinking about how we can make the event even bigger next year,” Malin said.

Sinner emphasized the department’s appreciation for community involvement and its importance in educating the public about fire safety.

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” said Sinner. “We love having families come along and learn more about fire safety, and events like this make it a little easier for us to keep the community safe. Sparky definitely helps with that too – the kids are just drawn to him.”

Sinner also spoke to families about the meaning of Fire Safety Month and its origins, noting the continued importance of fire safety education.

“Fire Prevention Week was first established by President Calvin Coolidge nearly 100 years ago after the Great Chicago Fire,” Sinner said. “It is a reminder of the importance of educating people – especially children – about fire safety. That’s why events like this are so important and we’re thrilled with how everything turned out today.”

Sinner added that the department is already thinking about expanding the open house next year in hopes of including even more community partners and donors.

“We have received such strong support from the community and local businesses,” Sinner said. “We would love to see this event grow and offer even more in the coming years.”