Fire Safety fest served up food, fun, even Marshall the fire dog

Mohamad Hamadi, 6, and his sister, Suesue, 8, both of Somersworth, enjoy some hot cider during the 2nd Annual Fire Safety Festival on Saturday at the Rochester Fire Department Central Station on Wakefield Street. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - Free pizza, face painting and fire safety were the hot topics at Rochester's Fire Safety Festival Saturday at Central Station on Wakefield Street.

Even with the raw, dreary weather, hundreds of families and youngsters turned out for the annual event, which seeks to inform young families and children about how to stay safe in the event of a fire in their home.

"The biggest thing we're teaching today is that you want to have two ways out," said Rochester Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Dube. "And you want to crawl out low below the smoke."

Ethan Hemeon, 4, of Rochester, makes his way safely out of a 'burning house' Saturday at Rochester Fire's Fire Safety fest at Central Station on Wakefield Street.

Dube said it's also important to show children how to escape a fire in their home, not just talk about it.

To that point, firefighters set up two smokehouses (one for youngsters, another for older children) to help point out the proper method of escape.

Another theme of the event was "Holiday Safety" so firefighters also had a lighted Christmas set up to show safety tips on tree placement as well as electrical issues.

Papa Gino's and Aroma Jo's supplied pizza and beverages for the event, respectively, while La Corona chipped in with some delicious churros.

The event, which also included an appearance by Marshall the fire dog, was part of the national Fire Prevention Week Oct. 7-13.