Golden's Bridge Fire Department's Annual Community Day Draws Record-Breaking Crowd

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — The event of the fall season in the Hudson Valley drew a record-breaking crowd, and we are all at least a little safe for the good times with a cause in mind.

From the Golden's Bridge Fire Department.

More than 560 guests streamed into last Saturday's (Oct. 18) much-anticipated Golden's Bridge Fire Department 9th annual "Community Day at the Firehouse" event for a jam-packed day of family-friendly activities, fire safety education, demonstrations, and festive fall fun.

The GBFD campus on Rt. 138 buzzed with energy and excitement in what was the largest turnout ever, eclipsing last year's Community Day attendance by 100 guests. While mostly local residents of the Golden's Bridge hamlet and Lewisboro community, there were also many visitors from neighboring towns where the GBFD provides mutual aid.

At the center of the excitement was a thrilling live-burn demonstration during which Golden's Bridge firefighters ignited and then extinguished a controlled structure fire, their skill and teamwork on full display as they quickly attacked and doused the flames. The throng of guests, in awe of how fast the fire spread and intensified — and although a safe distance away, felt the heat of the roaring blaze — erupted in applause when firefighters completely extinguished the flames.

Children lined up at one of the main attractions, a chance to be firefighters themselves by working a real fire hose, with the assistance of Golden's Bridge firefighters, and spraying water on mock flames at the windows of a house façade. The smoke house trailer on loan for the day from the Brewster Fire Department offered children and adults the chance to navigate a realistic simulation of a smoke-filled home. Guided by firefighters, participants learned a valuable lesson in staying low and calmly finding their way to an exit.

There were a number of crowd-pleasers among the junior set, as children raced down a giant inflatable fire truck slide, jumped around in a colorful bounce house, and made a big splash by plunging a Golden's Bridge firefighter into a dunk tank. But the show-stealer was the much-anticipated debut of "Goldie the Fire Dog," the GBFD's new, lovable costumed-character mascot who high-fived, fist-bumped, frolicked, and posed for photos with kids of all ages.

Children used markers and stickers that were in the gift bags they received to decorate pumpkins they picked themselves from the GBFD's very own pumpkin patch near the iconic fire bell outside the firehouse. They were busy at the bead necklace-making craft tables and enjoyed the challenges and games that were coordinated by GBFD-sponsored Troop 154 and other Scout groups. A Halloween showcase gave young visitors a chance to strut their festive costumes, with all receiving spooktacular prizes.

Several of the GBFD's partners in emergency services were on hand, including the New York State Police, the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps — which provided ambulance tours — and the Emergency Services Unit of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, whose officers helped children excitedly try on vests and other protective equipment. Children and adults also got behind the wheel of a fire engine for great photo opportunities.

Firefighters traded their firefighting gear for chef's aprons and grilled several hundred burgers and hotdogs to go along with an impressive spread of eats that included apple cider, coffee, fresh donuts, fruit, festive cookies and cupcakes, snacks, and Halloween chocolates and treats. Guests were also treated to freshly popped and buttered popcorn being churned out by an old-fashioned popcorn stand.

"Our primary mission is the safety and protection of our community, responding to structure, brush and vehicle fires, and to car accidents, weather-related, medical, and all other emergencies. But an equally significant part of what we do as volunteer firefighters is community outreach, building relationships with residents and our valued partners in emergency response, and educating the public about fire safety and prevention. We are proud of our members and we sincerely appreciate the support of the community," said Golden's Bridge Fire Chief Albert Melillo.

"We were thrilled to have this record turnout of community residents. We almost (but didn't) run out of food! Drawing as many people as we do to this annual event speaks volumes of the community’s support and recognition of the Golden's Bridge Fire Department; and Community Day is one of the ways we acknowledge and express our gratitude for this support," said Joe Simoncini, a Fire Commissioner and longtime firefighter who also serves as chair of the Community Day Committee.

The event culminated with everyone's favorite Community Day activity — rides on the Golden’s Bridge fire trucks, and getting to push the buttons that sound the sirens and flash the lights.

This release was produced by the Golden's Bridge Fire Department. The views expressed are the author's own.