Division of State Fire Marshal Announces Fire Marshal Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In celebration of the courageous members of Ohio's fire service and to help educate Ohioans of all ages on the importance of fire safety, the Ohio Department of CommerceDivision of State Fire Marshal (SFM) will host its Fire Marshal Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14. The free family friendly event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on SFM's campus located at 8895 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. Free parking is available on site.

The festival is a celebration of Ohio's dedicated firefighters and the important work the Division of State Fire Marshal does to 'Protect What Matters Most' to Ohioans. In addition to educational programming, the event will feature numerous interactive activities, including demonstrations, training exercises and experiences, including:

• Touch-a-Truck with Fire Engines
• K-9 Fire Dog Training Exercises
• Meet-and-Greet with SFM's Mascot, Sparky
• Fire Safety Demonstrations
• Helicopter Landings
• Food Trucks
• Bounce Houses
• Face Painting
• Balloon Animals
• Magic Show
• Kiddie Combat Challenge with Water Hoses

In addition to the above activities, representatives from SFM's seven bureaus (Underground Storage Tanks, Code Enforcement, Fire & Explosion Investigations, Forensic Lab, Licensing & Certification, and the Ohio Fire Academy) will discuss their work at the Division. A representative from Central Ohio Technical College also will be available to discuss how individuals can prepare for a career in the fire service, while attendees from the Ohio Fire Chief's Association and Ohio Firefighters' Association will explain promotion through the ranks.

"We had a wonderful turnout for our inaugural year for this event and we look forward to again welcoming Ohioans of all ages to our campus for a fun and educational day," said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon, "While our campus is usually secure, our gates will be wide open during this festival so individuals from across the state can come together to learn about fire safety, understand the important role we play in fire training and investigations, and, of course, have a great time!"

The festival also serves as a thank you to Ohio Fire Academy alumni, all of whom are invited back to campus to explore the growth of the Academy and learn about the exciting plans for future improvement and development.

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.