Fire department open house

Fire Capt. Brad Buehler highlights the features of a fire rescue vehicle to Sonny McCollum, 2, during an open house at Fire Station 1 on Thursday.

An early afternoon rain shower didn't dampen people's enthusiasm for the annual event with people arriving at the station as early as 5 p.m.

Held in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, more than 1,600 children and hundreds of parents gathered at the fire station throughout the evening for a chance to meet with local fire fighters and to ride on one of the rescue vehicles.

In addition to handing out hundreds of fire safety pamphlets and other information, the station also served 1,000 half pints of milk donated by the United Dairymen's Association of Idaho, along with 1,440 cookies. Photo by Brian S. Orban