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The Menlo Park Fire Protection District on Friday night capped off a year of celebrating its 100th anniversary by bringing back an old tradition – the “Night of Lights” community celebration that dates back to the 1930s.
Kids wearing firefighters hats, some of them also dressed in princess outfits, mingled with firefighters and district officials. They watched demonstrations including a ladder rescue using the district’s new $1 million multipurpose “quint” – a vehicle that combines a pumper truck with a ladder truck. The ladder extends to 107 feet.
District drones flew over the crowd and projected the images on a giant inflatable outdoor screen. Firefighters rappelled down the outside of their training tower, and firefighters and a medical team showed how they use the jaws of life and other equipment to extricate victims trapped in wrecked cars.
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Firefighters rappelled down the side of their training tower at the Menlo Park Fire Protection District’s “Night of Lights” celebration on Oct. 27. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Inside Fire Station 1, children clambered aboard a “fire truck” ride, munched on cookies and drank hot cocoa and looked at displays of historic fire equipment. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Firefighters demonstrating how they free people trapped inside vehicles left this reminder in front of a “Don’t Text and Drive” sign. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
A video that interviewed a number of current and former district firefighters was shown on a giant outdoor screen. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Chuck Bernstein, one of the directors of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District’s board, showed off his fire fighting themed tie at the event. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
At the end of the evening, children posed with firefighters in front of the cars used to demonstrate rescue equipment. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
As smoke billowed from the fourth story of the district’s training tower, the audience watched how the district’s new $1 million combination ladder/pumper truck was used for a rescue. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Inside Fire Station 1 was a display of history equipment used in earlier days by the 101-year-old district. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Fire board director Virginia Chang Kiraly brought her dog Fluffy to the festivities. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Parents and children gathered around the miniature fire truck for a ride. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Fire board directors Robert Jones (center) and Chuck Bernstein and Mr. Jones granddaughter were among those enjoying the night of demonstrations. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac) -
Firefighters demonstrated the ladder of the quint pumper/ladder truck extended to its maximum 107 feet. A firefighter clambered to the very, very top. (Photo by Barbara Wood/The Almanac)
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Doggonit! Wish there had been more heads up for this event. I remember it fondly as a child, walking there and home at night with my folks. I would have rounded up the neighborhood kids and headed over there. Hope they do it again and keep it going.
Yes, where do we residents learn about these events in advance? I didn’t see it listed online.