- March 28, 2025
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Sarasota's Declan Morrison, 2, tries the fire hose with the help of Firefighter/EMT Marshall Germond.
Photo by Ian SwabyFire Inspector Susan Scott pets Brisa, who comes from the Humane Society of Sarasota County.
Photo by Ian SwabyBradenton's Brook Jackson, 5, the daughter of Lt. Dennis Jackson of Sarasota County, tries the fire hose with his help.
Photo by Ian SwabyLt. Jacob Siegel offers Sarasota's Ian Sweeney, 6, a bike helmet fitting.
Photo by Ian SwabyNate Brown, 1, from Venice, learns about the extrication tools from Firefighter/EMT Justin Foster.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Kelly-Anne Shedd-Hartman visits with her daughter Orianna Hartman, 3, who tries on a fire helmet provided by Public Education Coordinator Michael Rodrigue. “She really wants to be a firefighter, so this is really exciting for us,” said her mom Kelly-Anne Shedd-Hartman.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Miaha Pasickgerdman, 11, gives a hug to Bear, who comes from the Humane Society of Sarasota County.
Photo by Ian SwabyPublic Education Coordinator Michael Rodrigue staffed a table at the event.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Clayton Lambert, 6, tries on a fire helmet with the help of his mother Megan Lambert.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Claire Lambert, 1, tries on a fire helmet with the help of her father Matt Lambert.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Matt Pirogov, 13, practices CPR at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital table.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Casey Perez, 2, his brother Cameron Perez, 4 and their neighbor Jaxson Bender, 4, attended the open house together.
Photo by Ian SwabyFree car seat inspections are offered at the fire department open houses.
Photo by Ian SwabyVisitors had the chance to explore fire engines.
Photo by Ian SwabyLakewood Ranch's Logan Anderson, 6, takes a seat in a fire truck.
Photo by Ian SwabyMalcolm Drummond, 7, Charlotte Drummond, 6, Elizabeth Drummond, 2 and their father Scott Drummond, watch the rapelling demonstration. They drove from Arcadia to see the open house.
Photo by Ian SwabyFirefighter/EMT Josh Gilliam performs a rapelling demonstration.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota County Deputy Fire Chief Darin Wallentine called the open house event held on Feb. 15 a "very special" one, due to Station 8 on Apex Road being the department's base of special operations.
The public could experience sights from tools for extrication from vehicles, to a demonstration of the department's rappelling equipment.
Each month, the department's free open house events offer families the chance to meet firefighters, explore fire equipment, and receive free car seat safety inspections, bike helmet fittings and fire and swimming safety information.
They also feature community partners like SunCoast Blood Centers, with which the department just established a prehospital whole blood transfusion program last month.
"We take great pride in what we do here at Sarasota County Fire," Wallentine said. "The professional nature of our firefighters, their willingness to continue to develop and train and learn, is very important to us, as a learning and a growing organization."
He said something that was "very encouraging" was seeing kids climb into fire trucks and receive tours from firefighters.
"Maybe in the future, one of these kids will decide to become a firefighter, and they will tie it back to the visit that they had here today as the emphasis on why they chose to become a public servant and to serve the community as a firefighter," he said.
