Ranger – The Ranger Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual open house event next month, complete with a blood drive.
The community is invited to visit the fire station from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 and enjoy food and fun for all ages. Personnel from several different agencies will be available to speak with kids and parents about fire prevention and home safety.
“We want the public to know what resources are in our area,” Ranger Fire Chief Mike Taylor said. “This year, we’ll also be cutting up cars and doing some high-angle rope rescue demonstrations.”
In addition to a smokehouse, which will be used to teach kids about fire safety, the event will include bounce houses for their enjoyment. There will also be a turnout gear race and other educational activities for all members of the family.
A bloodmobile will be parked on the property as well, seeking donations from people of all blood types. More than 540 volunteer blood donors are needed every day to adequately supply hospitals throughout North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky, according to Blood Assurance, a nonprofit regional blood center that is supplying the bloodmobile at the open house.
People interested in COVID antibody testing can speak with Blood Assurance staff about it at the event. Save time by answering health history questions online before arrival: bloodassurance.org/quickscreen.
The Ranger Volunteer Fire Department is at 155 Little Ranger Road. A community meeting to discuss the future will be held at 3:30 p.m. Topics will include the department’s new public protection classification rating, its new truck and the Firewise program.