MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Fire Department will open its Seymour Street station on Monday morning after the Middlebury Memorial Day Parade for anyone to view Middlebury’s technical equipment and rich firefighting history.  Light refreshments will be served, including hot dogs, until 11:30 a.m. Free safety protection information will be available from On Call for Vermont.
“People can look forward to seeing the old and the new in the parade. We’re bringing out our antique fire truck “Old Bessie” and, of course, we’ll have our new ladder truck,” Middlebury Fire Chief David Shaw said.  “Please come see them up close at the station as well as all the amazing equipment and memorabilia we have after the parade.”
The Middlebury Fire Department maintains two recently upgraded stations, including the major training station in downtown Middlebury on Seymour Street behind the Middlebury Community House and a station in East Middlebury. Fire equipment, including trucks, rescue apparatus and uniforms, are covered by an operating budget and capital reserve fund of 2 percent on the property tax approved by Middlebury voters.
Firefighters do much more than fight fires. They train for and perform a wide variety of other rescues, including human and animal searches and safe returns, clean up hazardous waste spills, and respond to river and ice incidents. They work in concert with other emergency responders, including Middlebury Police Department, Vermont State Police, Middlebury College Campus Security, Addison County Sheriff’s Department and Middlebury Regional Emergency Medical Services.
JOIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Middlebury Fire Department hopes to fill out its current force of 34 volunteers to 50. Volunteers meet the first Wednesday of each month to review business and train. It encourages anyone over 18 years old interested in learning what’s involved in becoming a firefighter to learn more by speaking with firefighters or by visiting middleburyfire.org, where a membership application can be found.
 “We want you to join our family,” Shaw said. “Yes, it will take some sacrifice of time and energy, but the good things in life always do. It’s worth the proud feeling of helping friends and neighbors in your community in their time of need.”
Middlebury Fire Department members thank the community for its support at its annual ham supper each May and the Memorial Day Parade and open house that follows.