Fire Department open house

The Weiser Fire District held its annual Open House on Saturday, May 6 at its station house in Weiser. Members of the public were invited to come talk to firefighters, take a look at equipment, and listen to how various fire trucks work and their particular roles in emergency situations. One of the big attractions was the $80,000 rescue truck purchased from a department in California, which has been added to the district’s inventory. Bought new, the truck would have cost about $500,000. Above, firefighters use the department’s new battery operated extrication equipment to demonstrate how they can methodically and safely take apart a vehicle to free trapped drivers and passengers. The vehicle being used, a Jeep Cherokee, was donated by Woody’s Towing, which also painted the rescue truck and helped pay for the cost. Photo by Philip A. Janquart