Fire and rescue personnel from across the southeast will take part in training exercises at the 38th annual Piedmont Fire Expo, slated to take place Jan. 18-19 at the Winston-Salem Entertainment Sports Complex, 420 Deacon Blvd., and the public is invited to take it all in.
The Expo will feature live training and exhibits and special guest stars like Tim Smith, star of the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners” and pro bull rider J.B. Mauney.
The Expo offers one of the largest displays of new fire equipment in the region. Indoor displays will occupy more than 60,000-square-feet of space. Emergency personnel from throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and surrounding states will be on hand.
The Expo is the annual fundraiser for the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under 12 will be admitted free with a paying adult. A special Kids’ Arena will offer photo opportunities with Sparky the Dog, Smokey the Bear, kid giveaways and more hands-on activities for the entire family. Parking is free.
Money raised supports local fire departments and rescue squads, which offer year-round training and other valuable services at no cost.
“Fire and rescue personnel give so much of their time to this field of work, taking time away from their families, that we want to make sure getting the requirements completed to maintain their certifications will not be a financial barrier for anyone to keep doing what they love to do,” said Steve Ogburn, a volunteer firefighter at Mineral Springs Fire Department and chair of the Association Training Committee.
The Expo is open Friday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The autograph session with Tim Smith is Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mauney’s is from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday.
For more details, visit www.piedmontfireexpo.org.
