Spokane Valley Fire Department showcases rescue skills at annual open house

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Smoke billowed from a window as a dozen firefighters climbed up ladders and pulled a life-sized dummy to safety during a demonstration today at the Spokane Valley Fire Department’s annual open house.

The event drew families and community members eager to see firefighters in action and learn about the department’s work. Crews performed a simulated house fire rescue while spectators cheered as the dummy was extracted from the smoking window.

Ken Witter, an EMT and firefighter with the Spokane Valley Fire Department, said the event reflects the mutual respect between the department and the community it serves.

“We love to show the public what we get to do. I use that term because we get to do this,” Witter said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to serve the community. We think it’s a great way to interface with the public and other agencies that have come out to participate.”

The open house, which is free to attend, has become an annual tradition. Witter emphasized that the department views the event as an opportunity to strengthen its connection with residents.

“It’s a free event, we do it every year and the public loves it,” he said.

Beyond the dramatic rescue demonstration, the fire department set up educational booths where children learned fundamental first aid skills. Young attendees practiced wrapping wounds and stabilizing injured limbs under the guidance of trained personnel, gaining hands-on experience in basic emergency response techniques.

The department also showcased additional capabilities during the event, including a helicopter rescue demonstration and displays of their fire engines. These exhibitions gave community members a comprehensive look at the range of services and equipment the Spokane Valley Fire Department uses to protect the area.

For those interested in expanding their emergency response knowledge, the department announced it will offer a free Friends and Family CPR class next Saturday. The sessions will teach community members cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques at no cost, making life-saving training accessible to anyone who wants to participate.