The importance of local firefighters will be highlighted as the 75th anniversary of a town's fire service is celebrated this weekend.
Attleborough Fire Station will host a fun-packed festival of all things Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, featuring a host of demonstrations for the public to get to grips with.
Watch manager Mark Wilson has coordinated the event along with the station's crew, which takes place on Saturday, June 10 at the site on Thieves Lane.
"We wanted to mark the anniversary and not just let it slip by unnoticed," said Mr Wilson "It's the 75th anniversary of Norfolk Fire Service, not just Attleborough Station, and it is a memorable milestone.
"The service has come a very long way in that time. In 1960, when Attleborough's current station was built, they had 61 calls in that year. Last year we had 350. The increase reflects the diverse range of calls that we now respond to each week.
"I'm very proud of the service that we provide the public and it also a way of showing where some of the taxpayers' hard-earned money is spent on services such as ours."
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The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, which is based at Dereham Fire Station, will demonstrate some of the techniques involved in their work and will include a demonstration of state-of-the-art listening and search devices used for confined spaces.
A simulation of a road crash will be taking place and firefighters will demonstrate the techniques involved in extricating people from the wreckage.
The Norfolk Fire Service Museum will be showing how to tackle a car fire and will be bringing two pre-Second World War pumps which the public will be able to sit in alongside modern-day frontline appliances.
People will also be able to show their skills with a fire hose or be the hero of the hour and rescue a casualty from open water with a throw line.
A kids' zone with fun activities will also include an appearance from Paw Patrol's very own Marshall the Fire Brigade Dalmatian.
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Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) will be demonstrating how to tackle a cardiac arrest and there will also be a blood pressure monitoring station where the public can carry out a quick health check.
The aerial ladder platform (ALP) from Earlham Fire Station and the water carrier from Fakenham will hopefully be in attendance along with the Norfolk Tech Service department who will be displaying the state-of-the-art equipment on the new appliances that will be shown at the Norfolk Show later this year.
The service's drone technology, which is used within the county at various incidents, will also be on display at the station.
The High Volume Pump (HVP) is set to attend and offers the country, not just the county, increased firefighting capabilities. These appliances can be deployed to situations such as wildfires, which are occurring with more regularity because of global warming.
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Mr Wilson, who has been an on-call firefighter for 26 years, added: "Attleborough Fire Station has protected the community for 75 years with 92 firefighters having served the community in that time.
"It's a great opportunity for the public to come and see what we do on a daily basis. We look forward to welcoming people along and perhaps it might help inspire the next generation of firefighters."
Free parking is available at Connaught Hall. The day runs from 10am to 2pm and entry is also free, with hot and cold food available to buy. All attractions are fire-call dependant.
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