Nearly 35 agencies from around the region will be at the 10th annual Public Safety Day hosted by the South Bryan Volunteer Firefighters Association and Bryan County Fire Department from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the old Kroger shopping center at 9701 Ford Ave.
South Division Fire Chief Mike Smith said the agencies range from the American Red Cross to the U.S. Coast Guard and offer safety training and knowledge to the community.
“It helps educate the public and lets the public see what firefighters, policemen and EMS people do,” Smith said. “It allows the public to meet them and look at their equipment and see where their tax money is going.”
The morning will begin with an opening ceremony when the Chatham County Fire Chiefs Color Guard will present the colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. State Sen. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, will be the keynote speaker, Smith said.
All proceeds from the event will go towards the construction of a memorial garden for fallen firefighters, he said.
“This is something we started earlier this year,” Smith said. “We’re trying to raise funds for (the memorial), and it will feature a statue with a granite wall that will have names engraved of firefighters that have died in the line of duty and others that have passed away.”
Smith said there will be lots of activities for children like fire truck rides, face painting and balloons, snow cones, clowns, bounce houses and more. A silent auction will be from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fire departments from Liberty, Effingham, Bryan, Chatham and Jasper counties will also be in attendance, he said. There will also be three helicopter landings, and the Pink Heals pink fire truck will be there as part of the Pink Heals Georgia Tour.
The American Red Cross and the Blood Alliance will be there for blood donations, Smith said, and the Bryan County Health Department may also be there offering flu shots.
For more information, email Smith at bcfd601@coastalnow.net.