Fireworks over lake is explosive success
"It was the best year we've had," Steve Rose, Peabody Fire Chief said. "We took in approximately $7,400. The crowd was big, we had lots of kids show up for the games, and the Life Team helicopter drew a good crowd."
Firefighters served between 600 and 650 people.
"I wasn't there for the whole day because I had to work," Peabody Firefighter Tim Peterson said, "but from what I did see and from what everyone was saying, this was the best crowd ever!
"We are already planning for a bigger and better event next year," he added.
Talk to any of the other county firefighters who helped with the Marion County Lake extravaganza Sunday and they will likely say the same thing.
This year was Lehigh's turn to host the event. Ashley Sheridan, wife of firefighter Fred Sheridan, said there were 65 county firefighters and their families who helped with the event.
"The purpose of the event (besides as a fund-raiser) is to educate children and families regarding fires," she said.
Different games and activities that were fun for children also served as a practice and learn system. One of the activities was an obstacle-type course that taught children what to do in case of a fire.
"We teach kids what to do when a smoke detector is activated," Ben Steketee, Hillsboro Fire Chief said. He also provides the stop, drop, and roll training at Hillsboro Elementary School.
Kansas Forest Service also provided educational materials to help make homes fire resistant.
The dunk tank again was a popular game for both old and young. Lincolnville Fire Chief Lester Kaiser received credit for issuing a successful challenge to the dunk tank crew. Kaiser said he didn't think they would raise much money, but if they hit $100, he would volunteer to sit in the tank and let people try to dunk him free of charge for 15 minutes.
"We raised $112 in 15 minutes with his challenge," Rose said. "So he kept his word and the crowds kept him wet.
Marion Fire Department provided a pumper truck so water hoses could be used to spray water from a vantage point near the water. Drivers of boats and jet skis would pass and signal for the firefighters and children to spray the water on them, which the hose operators did.
Winners of drawings were Paul Atwater of Wichita who won a barbecue grill, and Leona Hajek of Lost Springs who won a fireman's blanket.
Skylar Creed of Hillsboro was the winner in the children's division. She and her family were given a ride to the fireworks firing grounds in the Hillsboro Fire Department ladder truck and Skylar pushed the button to fire the first round of fireworks for the evening.
Marion County Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson was thanked for "bending over backward" to make sure not only firefighters, but people coming in to participate, had everything they needed.
"The whole evening was great. I can't imagine how it could have been better," Rose said.
Proceeds will be used to purchase equipment and to establish a training area for firefighters.
