Fire Department Emphasizes Safety, Remembers Firefighter

For kids and parents, the ’s open house Saturday was a chance to learn about fire prevention, to see a real firefighter up close and to climb on some very cool red fire trucks.

But for the firefighters themselves, it was a day to remember Arthur “Skip” Hart, a firefighter who died in May, shortly after his retirement from 16 years with the department.

“This (open house) was his baby,” said John Gilleran, public education officer. “It has grown from a small event to what it is now.”

As a tribute, Gilleran and other firefighters wore an image of Hart on a button pinned to their shirts.

It was Hart’s idea, Gilleran said, to put together an open house that would educate the community about fire safety as well as give residents a look at their fire department.

“We want the community to come see us, to learn about what we do," Gilleran said. "We want to get away from the closed-door stuff. What’s the new buzz word, transparency? We want to be a little more transparent as to what their money is paying for.”

As Gilleran spoke, a large crowd of children, moms and dads worked their way through the firehouse at 1051 Highland Grove Drive, viewing a handful of exhibits on fire safety, getting an up-close look at hose and hook-and-ladder trucks and ambulances parked outside.

Children also got the hang of a real firefighter’s hose, slid down a fire pole and met Sparky, the fire department's mascot.

Buffalo Grove resident Dee Kieser said her son, Jacob, had been looking forward to the open house for days.

“He’s been asking every day this week about this,” she said.

Three-year-old Sadie Alon appeared excited as she sat behind the wheel of a huge fire truck, pretending to drive.

Her mom, Allison, of Buffalo Grove, said she didn’t realize her daughter loved fire trucks. But she had a quick explanation.

“She has an older brother.”