3/2/2010 10:00:00 PM Prescott Fire celebrates 125th anniversary Saturday
Les Stukenberg/The Daily Courier Prescott Fire Department team members pull their hose cart north along Cortez Street in the department’s annual hose cart race.
Want to learn more about what firefighters do and spend an enjoyable afternoon downtown? Then bring your family to the Prescott Fire Department's 125th anniversary celebration from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Firehouse Plaza at 218 W. Goodwin St.
"So often we meet people on the worst day of their life," said Kristi Gagnon, fire inspector with the Prescott Fire Department. "This is an opportunity to meet them on a great day."
The Prescott Fire Department, Arizona's oldest, formed March 3, 1885, when the hydrant system in town started, said Chief Bruce Martinez of the Prescott Fire Department.
Prescott firefighters fight some of the most tenacious fires in one of the toughest fire districts in the nation, U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick said in a press release.
"Growing up in Arizona, I heard stories about the Prescott Fire Department fighting the fire that destroyed one block of historic Whiskey Row in the summer of 1900, and I remember the Indian Fire - a wildfire that nearly burned through town in the spring of 2002," Kirkpatrick said.
"Events like these gave me a deep respect for firefighters, especially those in Prescott."
At noon, the band Filabusta will kick off the celebration by playing music while fire trucks and other equipment parade down Goodwin Street.
Goodwin Street will close to traffic from Montezuma to Granite streets during the entire event.
The Prescott Fire Department honor guard will raise the flag, and Eppie Vicente will sing the national anthem. The celebration also will include fireworks and a technical rescue team rappelling demonstration.
On Goodwin Street, firefighters will demonstrate their skills dealing with car fires at 2 p.m., hazardous materials at 3 p.m., and technical rescues at 4 p.m.
At 5 p.m., a hose cart will compete with a modern engine and at 6 p.m. a live fire demonstration will take place.
Grand Rental Station will provide inflatables to keep children entertained.
The Firehouse Kitchen will provide burgers and hot dogs for $5 a plate, and beverages for sale as well, including beer and wine. People also can buy 125th anniversary T-shirts and sweatshirts. Proceeds from sales of food, beverages, T-shirts and sweatshirts will benefit Prescott Firefighter's Charities, Gagnon said.
Fire engines and apparatus will be on display along Goodwin Street for the entire event, and plenty of educational material will be available to the public.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Article comment by:
Concerned Citizen
I think it's great that we have a fire department that has been around for 125 years. I think it's also great that they are having a celebration for it. I'm not so sure that the timing is right to spend money on it. Fireworks for instance are extremely expensive. Is it my tax dollars that are paying for this? How about the personnel and fire engines that are going to be on display? Are the firefighters volunteering their time or is that all at the taxpayers expense? With the City of Prescott in the financial situation it is in it seems that this is not the best time to spend extra on parties and firework displays.
