Crawley Fire Station will be opening its doors to the public this Saturday (July 18), giving West Sussex residents an insight into the activities of their local firefighters.

The event will be held at the Fire Station on Ifield Avenue from 11am to 4pm and will have lots for all the family to enjoy. Refreshments will be available, along with face painting and rides on vintage fire engines for the family. Admission is free.

It’s also an opportunity for members of the public to see first hand the range of activities involved with being a modern firefighter, with demonstrations of fire fighting and rescue skills throughout the day.

Crews will be on hand to talk about fire safety in the home, at work and out and about. They will also demonstrate how they would release a casualty from a road traffic collision. The chip pan demonstration vehicle will be used throughout the day to show the dangers of chip pan fires.

The Fire Investigation dog (Hattie) will also be there, along with Sussex Police’s investigation dog, representatives from South East Coast Ambulance Service and the Territorial Army.

The day will also provide the ideal occasion for the public to find out about West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s free Home Fire Safety Check Service.