Fun for all at Hitchin Fire Station open day

Mathew and Oscar Malone, two, at Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

Hitchin Fire Station’s annual open day on Saturday was very well attended, with fire, police and Royal Army Medical Corps vehicles on hand – and the teddy bear parachute jump, which was as popular as ever.

Youngsters enjoyed trying on firefighters’ helmets and having a go with the firefighters’ cutting equipment, and there were the usual fairground rides, slides and more too.

A police car at Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

An operational call at 9.30am meant the crews were out until 1.30pm – an hour and a half after the fun started – but Watch Commander Mark Burgess told the Comet that those left at the station in Newtons Way “held the fort admirably”.

Mark added that about £1,000 had been raised for the Fire Fighters Charity and mental health charity Mind.

Visitors to the Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

Finley Goodliffe, three, has a go with the cutting equipment at Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

Thomas Pope, eight, has a go with the cutting equipment at Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

Joel Baines, two, sits in his grandad David Tinney's lap in an ambulance at Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

Cameron Cox, five, sits in a police car at Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

Visitors enjoy the Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)

Billy Wells, two, sits in a fire engine at Hitchin Fire Station Open Day. Picture: CALLUM ALLCOCK-GREEN (Image: ©Callum Allcock-Green)