VIDEO: Families at the Black Hills Farmers Market on Saturday had the chance to connect with first responders as part of the market’s Fire and Law Enforcement Day, an event designed to build community ties and offer a glimpse into the world of emergency services. Crews from the Rapid City Fire Department, Black Hawk Fire Department, and Pennington County Search and Rescue were on hand, giving kids and adults an opportunity to interact with personnel and explore emergency vehicles up close.
A popular attraction was a fire escape obstacle course, which taught children fire safety basics. Kids learned how to check a door for heat before opening it and the importance of crawling low to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation in the event of a fire. or many families, the event was a welcome addition to their usual grocery run.
โWe heard about the first responders and stuff being here and we wanted to check out the firetrucks and see the search and rescue,โ said Mason McBride, a Rapid City local attending with his son, Aero, โHe loves cars, so we had to come out here, and then fresh produce, you know, thatโs always good.โ
Beyond the family fun, the event served as a critical community outreach opportunity for the emergency service departments. Captain Haiden Janssen with the Black Hawk Fire Department said he has seen a dip in the number of local volunteers. He hopes that engaging with the public, especially young people, can help inspire the next generation to serve.
โI like just talking with the community, getting to know people,โ said Capt. Janssen, โAnd, you know, everybody wants to be a firefighter or a cop and I want to push people to keep on doing that.โ
The Black Hills Farmers Market is open year-round at Market Park on East Omaha Street. Its winter hours, which run from November through April, are Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
