First SPFD open house in over 25 years was a big success, firefighters say

STEVENS POINT — The Stevens Point Fire Department hosted its first open house in more than 25 years on Oct. 12, in honor of Fire Prevention Month.

The event drew over 100 attendees in the first hour, with families enjoying station tours, apparatus displays, fire safety information, and a special appearance by Sparky, the fire safety mascot. Ultimately, more than 200 people filed through the SPFD on Saturday.

Fire Chief Jb Moody said members of his department take a great deal of pride in the SPFD and took great pains to ensure Station No. 1 was in top condition before the event.

“This was all them…they shampooed the carpets, they were painting walls…our members really carry a high level of pride and ownership in this department,” Moody said.

Moody has been chief for a little over two years and has hired about half of the department’s members in that time. He believes the last time the department held an open house was sometime in the mid-to-late-1990s.

“This is the first open house we’ve had in over two decades, and the community response has been amazing,” said Division Chief Terence Sinner, who helped organize the event. “We’ve had a steady stream of families coming through, and the kids really seem to be enjoying it—especially Sparky.”

The open house, organized in part by Sinner, also featured a city-wide fire safety contest for children. Kindergarten through second-grade students participated in a coloring contest, while third through fifth graders submitted essays on the importance of smoke detectors in the home. Sinner said choosing winners was difficult due to the quality of the entries.

“We had some fantastic submissions,” Sinner said. “The creativity and thought that went into these essays and coloring sheets was impressive. It made our job of picking winners a real challenge.”

The top entries in each grade level were awarded bicycles valued between $200 and $250, donated by the Hostel Shoppe. Other local sponsors, including Culver’s and Kwik Trip, contributed prizes such as a year’s supply of custard and gift cards for food and drinks.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our local businesses for their generosity,” Sinner said. “The Hostel Shoppe, Culver’s, and Kwik Trip really stepped up to help make this event special for the kids.”

A ceremony to honor the winners took place at noon. During the event, Sinner expressed appreciation for the strong community support and the efforts of local donors.

The open house also featured a cookout, with proceeds benefiting the Stevens Point Firefighters Charitable Foundation, which supports various community initiatives.

Justin Malin, deputy fire marshal and emergency management coordinator, praised the turnout and community involvement.

“It’s great to see families come out and engage with what we do, and we’re already looking at how we can make next year’s event even bigger,” Malin said.

Sinner emphasized the department’s appreciation for the community’s participation and its importance in educating the public about fire safety.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Sinner said. “We love seeing families come through and learn more about fire safety, and events like this make our job of keeping the community safe a little easier. Sparky definitely helps with that too—the kids just gravitate toward him.”

Sinner also talked to families about the significance of Fire Prevention Month and its origins, noting the continued importance of fire safety education.

“Fire Prevention Week was first established by President Calvin Coolidge nearly 100 years ago, after the Great Chicago Fire,” Sinner said. “It’s a reminder of how important it is to educate people—especially kids—about fire safety. That’s why events like this are so critical, and we’re thrilled with how everything turned out today.”

Sinner added that the department is already considering expanding next year’s open house, with hopes of involving even more community partners and donors.

“We’ve had such strong support from the community and local businesses,” Sinner said. “We’d love to see this event grow and offer even more in the years to come.”