More than 300 friends and neighbors of the Western Salisbury Fire Department, located at the intersection of Ott Street and Green Acres Drive, attended the fire department’s annual Community Day held Sept. 15, at the department’s Swain Station and the adjacent Green Acres Park.

Youngsters found games and prizes, bounce houses, cotton candy and a clown show, while families enjoyed picnic fare from Salisbury Township’s Smokin’ Smitty’s Catering, watched demonstrations in the township’s fire safety house and flocked to a Lehigh Valley Health Network’s MedEvac helicopter for a close-up look at the air ambulance.

Fire company President Adam Al-Khal said it was gratifying to see the positive turnout for the department’s 10th annual Community Day event. The first Community Day at the fire station was held in conjunction with the fire department’s 50th anniversary observance in 2009.

The day’s events were capped by Fire Chief Joshua Wells demonstrating rope rappelling skills by descending from the top of the department’s extended aerial ladder truck – upside-down.

That demonstration has been a longtime favorite with grade school students in the township’s schools during annual school fire safety programs during Fire Prevention Week in early October.