'We're an open book': Emergency responders in Wagener offer family-friendly tour (2024)

WAGENER — The world of bunker gear, body armor and badges was on display June 22 at 299 Park Ave. in Wagener, with town's fire and police departments holding an open house and welcoming dozens of visitors for a free combination of relaxation and education.

The mix included a bounce house, dunk tank, fire trucks, a police car, hot dogs, kid-friendly souvenirs and displays showing the variety— and costs— of gear that firemen and police officers carry with them while on duty. Information dealt with such concerns as how to serve volunteer departments and how to get a reflective sign for marking an address to help first responders reach the scene of an emergency as quickly as possible.

"This is our first year of doing it, but it'll be something that we'll do every year, around summertime," said T.C. Rushton, the fire chief. "We just like to push this information out to the community, about the 9-1-1 signs and then, it gets kids in to see firefighters in gear, so that they're not scared if something happens, and it just kind of works as a community-risk-reduction event for us."

Rushton has been at his post since October 2023, and his counterpart, Mark Warchol, is also a relative newcomer, having become the police chief in early June.

Warchol also commented on the purpose for holding an open house.

"We're here for the community, and we want to be a part of the community and we want the community to know us and know what we're here for them," he said.

Attendance at the open house was "a little slow," in Rushton's assessment. "The big thing that we're going to work on is consistency, so it'll be every year, so I'm sure it'll grow as we keep doing it ever year," he said.

One of the gathering's most prominent attractions was four-legged and fuzzy. Milo, a therapy dog who belongs to the Rushton family and is a favorite in the local school system, was on hand (or paw) to meet the public, take naps and chase a tennis ball.

The idea, Rushton said, is to offer an open house in early summer, when kids are out of school and families might welcome the chance for an activity.

"We just want people in here to see what we do, and show everybody that we're an open book," he said.