The Demopolis Fire and Rescue Department will show off its skills and services Saturday morning during its third annual open house event.

“We’re having an open house that is open to all our citizens in Demopolis and our neighbors,” DFRD chief Ronnie Few said of the event. “What we’ll do is show all the services that we have here in our city.”

That list of services ranges from Hazmat responsiveness to a mass casualty unit to fire prevention and includes just about everything in between as the department under few has focused on cross-training and being prepared for any event.

“To get a good understanding of how a modern fire department runs, you have to be on hand (Saturday),” Few said. “It’s a time for education and a time for fun. We’ll have some food we’ll be serving as well. So have a heavy appetite when you come.”

The department will utilize a number of tools and resources during the event, including DFRD mascot Pluggie, Smokey the Bear and a team of puppets that will put on a show.

“We feel like our fire education is second to none here in the state,” Reese said. “We’re even going to have a demonstration of how to use a fire extinguisher.”

Few said the event is a favorite of the department as it gives firefighters an opportunity to interface with the public and show off their varied abilities.

“They love to do it because it gives them an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and their training they’ve received,” Few said. “They love to go and show that they are more than just someone who puts fires out. They are public service workers.”

The event will begin at 9 a.m. at Fire Station No. 1 across from Sonic and wrap up around noon.

“Don’t worry about the weather. Nobody will be sitting in the sun,” Few said. “We’ll have plenty to drink. Anything you can have on our picnic, we’ll have it that day.”