Children, crawl through rooms, climb ladders at Hinsdale police and fire open house

Families practiced the skills police officers and firefighters use at Hinsdale’s annual Police & Fire Open House Saturday , along with techniques they might use to escape a fire.

Children crawled through a room and climbed ladders in the Fire Department’s training tower.


They also could try handling a fire hose to put out a fire the firefighters intentionally set.

The firefighters demonstrated how they fight a roof fire, simulating a fire on the roof on the east side of the fire station, at 121 Symonds Drive.

The department also staged a demonstration of how effectively sprinklers stop a fire before it spreads by starting a fire in a furniture-filled trailer with one side a viewing window where people can watch the progress of the flames.

Residents could bring fire extinguishers for experts to test whether they still operate.

The Fire Department’s mascots, Sparky and Cinders, greeted visitors.

Both fire and police vehicles, including ambulances, fire trucks and SWAT vehicles, were out and open for people to examine.

Representatives of Nicor and ComEd manned booths with information about their operations and safety tips.

Hot dogs, popcorn and other refreshments were served.