The bright, sunny skies and mild temperature made a perfect day for Towamensing Volunteer Fire Company's open house event in Palmerton on Saturday.

"We just kind of wanted to get our brand back out there, let the community know we're still here, functioning and supporting them, and we're looking for their help to continue doing that," Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Snyder said.Plenty of food, including a roast pig, burgers, hot dogs, and fresh cut french fries were available for the crowd to enjoy - and it was all for free."This is wonderful, what they're doing. We were just passing by on the road, and we were just going to buy a hot dog to support the cause, but they told us it was free. They're doing a really good job for the community," Mary Beth Knoskie said.The department's equipment, including the new 949 brush truck, was on display for the community to check out."It's a neat truck we have. There are front nozzles for driving down a fire lane, and we can squirt water out the sides," volunteer fire fighter Angelo Mesce said as he showed off the truck.Kids and parents even got a chance to ride in the open back of the department's oldest fire truck, taking in the sites of the surrounding community."It was great. I want to go again!" Lucas Beahn, a young attendee, said about the truck ride.A 50/50 was held to benefit the department, with most winners donating a portion of their take right back to the fire company. Tours of the department and the rental hall, which can be rented for weddings and parties, were offered as well.A fire-extinguisher demonstration drew a small crowd in the afternoon, where Snyder, Robert O'Donnell, and more volunteers educated the public on types of extinguishers and their proper usage. Several children even took a shot at using the extinguishers, with O'Donnell showing them the proper sweeping motion used to put out a fire.Towamensing Township's Board of Supervisors Co-Chairman Tom Newman stopped by to check out the festivities, and applauded the efforts of the department."This is like a rejuvenation of the fire company, and the community," Thomas said.The success of the open house was thanks to the efforts of the volunteers who helped set up the event, in addition to reaching out to the community to establish a strong bond."We've got a new chief, and we're turning over a new leaf," Mesce said in reference to Fire Chief Jeremy Haydt, who unfortunately had to work during the event. "It's a big workload for the volunteers, but it's important. Everything you see here is the community's as it is. They paid for it, we're just giving back," Mesce said.Snyder said that recent efforts in the reinvigorated department have helped to increase volunteering, so much so that they will require more equipment."We've had a large growth recently, we've probably doubled in size on our active side," Snyder said.Snyder was pleased with the turnout, enjoying the opportunity to reestablish a sense of trust and partnership with the local community."I think that this is a tremendous thing. We're headed in the right direction," Snyder said.