Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 will hold its annual Firemen’s Carnival at its Kinloch station for the first time.
The event, in its 15th year, is the one of the department’s two large-scale fundraisers each year — along with its Lenten fish fries — and usually brings in about $30,000, said Chief Ted Hereda.
With rising operational, equipment and utility costs, funds raised from the carnival are especially important for the department, he said.
“Usually, annually, it costs us roughly around $40,000 in utilities,” Hereda said. “We’re probably going to be double that this year, just because of the economy.”
He said it is also a good chance for the community to get to know its firefighters.
“Other than us showing up to their house, people don’t see us. They don’t know who we are,” Hereda said. “We want them to know who we are. We want them to know that we’re part of their community, that we’re there for them.”
The event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. daily from Monday, June 8 to Saturday, June 13. It will include rides, games, bingo and an array of food options.
The department held last year’s carnival at Hillcrest Shopping Center.
“We’re excited to have it (at the station) but … the bigger the lot you have, the better it is,” Hereda said. “But we’re making do with what we have to do because it’s such a big fundraiser.”
Because of limited parking at the station, Hereda said, they have permission to use a lot at the former Newport Business Institute, along with other nearby lots.
An aerial graphic of parking instructions is posted on the department’s Facebook page.
If you go
Who: Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
What: Firemen’s Carnival
When: Monday, June 8 to Saturday, June 13
Where: The VFC’s Kinloch station, 915 New York Ave., Lower Burrell