Fire fair educates Sisters community

Firefighters staged an extrication demonstration at the Fire Fair on Saturday, June 2.

Sisters area firefighters pried open a wrecked car, showed off new equipment and entertained youngsters at the third annual Fire and Safety Fair held Saturday, June 2, in the Village Green.

Representatives from various city and county agencies were on hand to educate the public and demonstrate some of the equipment they use in the field.

Jim Gentry, who was the primary catalyst organizing the event, remarked, "Our purpose is public information. We want to convey to the community that we have a great safety and fire team here in Sisters.

"It also serves as a way to get the various agencies working together even more than they are," he added. "It's a good communication tool."

Gentry is the volunteer coordinator for the Sisters/Camp Sherman fire district, a chaplain, and a volunteer fireman.

All three local fire districts (Sisters/Camp Sherman, Cloverdale, and Black Butte Ranch), were represented, as was Deschutes County 911, Air Life, the U.S. Forest Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Ed Sherrill, Fire Chief at Black Butte Ranch, emphasized the cooperation between these local agencies.

"We've got a great mutual aid pact here in Sisters -- a real sense of cooperation," he said. "If there's a fire in Sisters, we roll, and if there's one in Black Butte Ranch, they come help us."

The mutual aid may be more necessary this year than ever before.

"This is the worst May since I've been here (47 years)," said Sisters Fire Chief Don Rowe. "We haven't had more fires, just a lot bigger ones that are harder to control because it's so dry."

Tom Fitzpatrick, assistant fire management officer for the Forest Service, echoed the concern.

"It's been a dry spring, and we've had problems with fires. It's too early to start dealing with this," he said. "People need to be careful with campfires when they enjoy the outdoors."

It wasn't all serious business at the Village Green, however. There were plenty of free hot dogs and soda provided, as well as activities for children. Cloverdale Fire Chief Chuck Cable noted, "the kids like our squirt tank. They get a chance to run the fire hose here and win some prizes."

Smokey Bear and Sparky the Firedog were on hand, but the equipment was the highlight.

"We do this so the public can see the equipment we've got -- what they're paying for and what it will do," Rowe said.

AirLife had Whirlybird, a modified 1957 BMW Izetta (it looks likes it should be a kid's ride at Wal-Mart) that serves as their mascot for parades and school presentations.

"It's the baby brother to the big helicopter that may save your life someday," said volunteer Judy Kell.

Cloverdale fire department showed off it's own parade vehicle -- a classic miniature fire truck.

Black Butte Ranch displayed a fire truck with a 75-foot extension ladder, able to pump 1,000 gallons of water a minute.

Sisters/Camp Sherman fire department demonstrated extrication equipment by tearing apart a car (donated by Davis Towing) with "the jaws of life."