Cheney firefighter Jon Hanke, being sworn in above by Finance Director and City Clerk Cindy Neimeier before the council last August, will be one of several new firefighters the public will meet at Saturday's open house.
Cheney Fire Department Lt. Tim Steiner thinks the last time the department held an open house, the city's emergency medical services six-year levy was up for renewal.
That would have been Aug. 7, 2012, and the levy passed with 80.74 percent of the vote.
Regardless of when it was, the department is holding another open house this Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The public will get a chance to tour the station, see some demonstrations and check out the department's equipment, which in some cases has been upgraded since the last open house.
Some of that gear is also new, such as the Rescue Task Force gear, or RTF. The equipment includes everything the department will hopefully need should it have to respond to an active shooter incident – bulletproof vests, helmets and medical equipment.
Cheney's department has taken part in active shooter training scenarios over the last several years at places like Eastern Washington University and Cheney Middle School, learning to team with units from other area agencies that include not only the Cheney and EWU police departments, but different divisions from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol.
Other upgraded equipment scheduled to be on display is the department's new heart monitors, Life Pack 15, as well as upgraded confined space equipment.
"Things the general public hasn't had a chance to get to look at, touch," Steiner said.
There will also be new personnel for the public to meet, including firefighter Jon Hanke and paramedic Ben Walters. Walters has been with Cheney one year, while Hanke has been with the department nine months.
"And our resident (firefighter) pool is always rotating," Steiner said.
Steiner said they hope to have a hose out for the kids to do a little spraying. There will also be free hotdogs, fresh popcorn and beverages for everyone.
"The citizens of Cheney have always shown tremendous support for the fire department and we want to thank you for that," the department said in a news release.
The open house is sponsored by the Cheney Professional Firefighters Local 1919 in conjunction with the Cheney Volunteer Firefighters and the Cheney Fire Department.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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