Huntingburg fire department hosts community family day with police support

Huntingburg’s fire station will open its doors Saturday for more than games and a community visit. The third annual Community Family Day, set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station 1, 501 E 1st Street, will bring the Huntingburg Fire Department and a special appearance by the Huntingburg Police Department together in one public-safety outreach event.

The free gathering is aimed at all ages, but its value reaches beyond a weekend stop. For families, especially children, the event offers a chance to meet the people who respond when an alarm sounds, ask about fire prevention, and better understand when to call for help. In a city where trust can make the difference in an emergency, those face-to-face conversations matter before a crisis ever starts.

The fire department says it has served Huntingburg since 1885 and now protects more than 7,500 citizens across 39.8 square miles in Huntingburg and Patoka Township. Operating from two stations, the department describes itself as a paid on-call agency with an all-hazard mission that includes fire prevention, fire protection, EMS and community outreach. Its ISO rating is 4.

Chief Don Heim leads the fire department. Chief Brad Kramer leads the police department, whose mission statement emphasizes building a better relationship and partnership with the community and promoting mutual respect. That shared approach will be on display at Family Day, where the police department’s presence turns the event into a broader first-responder outreach effort rather than a single-department open house.

The department has used the annual event to mix education with practical safety lessons. Last year’s second annual Community Family Day was held May 17, 2025, at Memorial Gym and included a CPR Challenge, a fire truck scavenger hunt, drone demonstrations, a bicycle rodeo, hot dogs and drinks, and pork chop dinners sold by the auxiliary. Children also got to dress as firefighters and received new bicycle helmets, underscoring the department’s focus on safety as much as celebration.

Huntingburg Fire Department officials have also promoted a Citizen’s Academy for residents, another sign that the department is trying to keep public engagement going between emergencies. Saturday’s Family Day continues that effort in a setting designed to be welcoming, practical and easy for families to approach.